Discount coffee, hotels thrive in China's penny-pinching economy

Businesses offering bargains come out ahead of high-end peers in Q1 earnings

20250528N China Consumers 1

A cup of coffee at Luckin Coffee goes for less than half the price at Starbucks. (Photo by Kohei Fujimura)

KOHEI FUJIMURA

DALIAN, China -- As a wave of cost-consciousness sweeps across China, businesses offering quality at a discount have seen earnings surge while their high-end peers struggle.

Quanjude, the restaurant chain known for its gourmet Peking duck, saw revenue shrink 7% on the year during the first quarter through March.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.