Part 9/15:
The decline isn't limited to international giants. Local brands such as 85°C, once a dominant Taiwanese bakery chain with over 500 stores, have exited major Chinese cities like Beijing. Since 2025, they have been systematically closing stores, with an expected 40 closures across the mainland this year. Many of these closures are driven by unprofitability and shifting consumer preferences.
Furthermore, China’s food and beverage industry faces a grim outlook, with over 1.6 million stores closing in the first half of 2025 alone — averaging 8,800 closures daily. Small businesses and chain restaurants alike are disappearing rapidly, overwhelmed by economic pressures and changing consumer habits.