Japanese doughnut chain Mister Donut has returned to mainland China after a seven-year absence, opening its first new Shanghai location on September 28, 2026. The comeback is being driven through a master franchise agreement, with local partner Shanghai MeiTianTian Brand Management Co., Ltd. responsible for developing the brand across East China.
The new Mister Donut outlet is located at Shanghai Global Harbor, a major shopping complex connected to Jinshajiang Road metro station. The takeout-focused store offers 25 doughnut varieties, including the brand’s signature Pon de Ring and products developed specifically for the Shanghai market. Localised offerings include banana-flavoured doughnuts, with prices reported at around 13–16 yuan. More than 100 people reportedly lined up around the opening.
The return follows Mister Donut’s withdrawal from mainland China in 2019. Duskin, the Japanese company behind the brand, originally established the Mister Donut business in Shanghai in 2000 before exiting the market. In January 2026, Duskin announced its decision to re-enter China after assessing changing market and social conditions and securing a local partner with experience in Japanese food businesses.
The new agreement covers Shanghai Municipality and the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shandong, giving Shanghai MeiTianTian Brand Management a master franchise territory across East China. Zekai Liu, CEO of Shanghai MeiTianTian Brand Management and Shanghai XinYing International Trading, is leading the local operation. Duskin cited Liu’s business network and understanding of Chinese regulations and business practices as factors supporting the partnership.
The expansion is being structured as a master franchise model, allowing the local partner to develop and operate Mister Donut in the territory while Duskin provides the brand’s operating know-how. The approach follows the company’s recent overseas expansion strategy in Singapore and Hong Kong, where it has also used master franchise agreements.
The initial Shanghai store is only the first stage of the comeback. Shanghai MeiTianTian plans to operate two stores by the end of 2026 and expand the network to 30 stores by the end of 2029, with Shanghai and the wider East China region forming the core of the rollout.
Mister Donut’s return also extends Duskin’s broader international franchise strategy. Before the China re-entry, the brand had an overseas presence in Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Duskin reported 1,287 Mister Donut shops across those six overseas markets as of December 31, 2025, with the figure including locations operated under master franchise agreements.
The brand has a long franchise history in Japan. Duskin introduced Mister Donut to Japan in 1970 after reaching an agreement with Mister Donut of America, and the first Japanese store opened in Minoh, Osaka, in 1971. The first franchise outlet followed in the same year.
For Duskin, China represents another step in its strategy of expanding the Mister Donut business across Asia while adapting products and store formats to local markets. The company’s overseas model emphasises localised menus and operating formats, while master franchise partners provide market-specific knowledge and development capabilities.
The China comeback therefore gives Mister Donut a new platform for East Asian expansion after its earlier exit, with the 30-store target by 2029 providing a defined roadmap for its second attempt at building a mainland Chinese franchise network.
