Chinese tea chain Auntea Jenny is preparing to enter the coffee segment, marking a strategic expansion beyond its core milk tea business as it reports strong financial growth for 2025.
The Shanghai-based brand said it will accelerate the rollout of coffee offerings and invest in beverage innovation to cater to shifting consumer preferences and broader demand across drink categories.
The move comes as the company posted a profit attributable to shareholders of $72.5 million (RMB501.3 million) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, alongside a 36 percent year-on-year jump in revenue to $645.99 million (RMB4.46 billion).
Gross profit rose 36.7 percent to $203.13 million, reflecting stronger store-level performance and higher sales across its network.
Auntea Jenny’s growth continues to be anchored in its franchise-heavy model. The company attributed revenue gains to product sales to franchisees, a growing store base, and improved average sales per outlet.
The brand operates one of the largest tea franchise networks globally, with over 11,000 stores as of end-2025, primarily in China, alongside early international expansion into markets such as the US, Malaysia, South Korea and the UK.
Looking ahead, the company said it will continue expanding its store footprint in a ‘staged manner’ while focusing on improving unit economics. Plans include strengthening franchisee support to shorten payback periods and enhancing supply chain capabilities through broader supplier partnerships and expanded cold-chain logistics.
The push into coffee places Auntea Jenny in more direct competition with global café chains, as Chinese beverage brands increasingly diversify menus to drive frequency and capture a wider share of the out-of-home drinks market.
For franchise operators, the coffee entry signals potential for higher ticket sizes and daypart expansion, while also increasing operational complexity as brands move toward multi-category beverage platforms.
