Luckin Coffee has opened its 100th store in Singapore, marking a major international expansion milestone three years after the Chinese coffee chain entered the market. The milestone outlet opened in Bugis, a major commercial and transport hub, as Luckin strengthens its presence in Singapore and uses the market as a benchmark for its global expansion.
Luckin entered Singapore in 2023, making it the company’s first market outside China. Since then, it has grown to become Singapore’s second-largest coffee chain by store count, serving more than 1.9 million cumulative transacting customers. Its Singapore network now spans commercial districts, residential areas, transport hubs, hospitals and universities.
A key part of the expansion has been localisation. Luckin has introduced more than 130 products in Singapore, including pandan, brown sugar and Milo-inspired beverages. Its Coconut Latte and Little Butter Latte have each surpassed 2 million cups in cumulative local sales. Since January 2026, all beverages on its Singapore menu have been rated Grade C or above under Singapore’s Nutri-Grade system, reflecting adjustments to local consumer preferences and regulations.
The new Bugis store was constructed to LEED Gold certification standards, extending Luckin’s sustainability and low-carbon initiatives to its overseas operations. The company’s Singapore workforce has also grown to more than 860 employees, compared with around 50 when it first entered the market.
“Our growth is driven by deep localization, adapting our digital capabilities, continuous product innovation, and global supply chain to Singapore’s unique market,” said David Li, Chairman of Luckin Coffee. He added that the company’s experience in Singapore demonstrates that its model can be adapted internationally.
The 100-store milestone also comes with a new community initiative. Luckin has announced a long-term partnership with Singapore’s Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and its affiliated Woodbridge Hospital Charity Fund to promote mental-health awareness. The company has previously worked with the organisations to showcase and sell artwork created by mental-health service users at its outlets.
Franchise Expansion
While Singapore has been developed by Luckin as its first international market, the company has increasingly incorporated partnership and franchise-led expansion into its global strategy. In 2025, Luckin granted exclusive franchise rights to local partners in Malaysia, allowing them to develop and operate Luckin stores in the market. Malaysia ended 2025 with 70 Luckin stores, according to the company’s annual filing.
Luckin’s broader network also combines self-operated and partnership stores. At the end of 2025, the company had 31,048 stores globally, including 20,234 self-operated stores and 10,814 partnership stores. By the end of the second quarter of 2026, its total network had increased to 36,310 stores, comprising 23,734 self-operated and 12,576 partnership stores.
During the second quarter of 2026 alone, Luckin opened 2,714 net new stores, including seven in Singapore, 31 in Malaysia and eight in the United States, alongside 2,668 stores in China including Hong Kong. The company said its global network had surpassed 38,000 stores across China, Singapore, Malaysia and the US by the September 28 Singapore milestone.
Founded in China in 2017, Luckin has built its growth around a technology-driven operating model combining digital ordering, data analytics, delivery and a mix of self-operated and partnership stores. Its expansion from a first overseas market in Singapore to a broader international network that includes franchise-led development in Malaysia highlights the different operating models the coffee chain is using as it expands beyond China.
