Core Viewpoint - Haagen-Dazs is facing significant challenges in the Chinese market, with declining sales and increased competition from both ice cream brands and new beverage categories like tea drinks. The brand's high-end positioning is becoming less sustainable as consumer preferences shift towards more affordable options. Group 1: Market Performance - In FY2025 Q3, General Mills reported a 5% decline in net sales, with Haagen-Dazs experiencing a double-digit percentage drop in customer traffic in China [9] - Over the past five years, General Mills' related revenue has decreased from $820 million to $720 million [10] - Haagen-Dazs once had 400 out of 900 global stores in China, contributing over 50% of its profits, but has since closed 81 stores nationwide [5][13] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - The rapid expansion of Dairy Queen (DQ) and the rise of brands like Mixue Ice City, which offers ice cream at 2 yuan, have significantly squeezed Haagen-Dazs' market space [6] - New tea drink brands have emerged as formidable competitors, with Haagen-Dazs inadvertently entering the same market segment [22][34] - The shift in consumer preferences towards tea drinks has led to Haagen-Dazs losing its competitive edge, as evidenced by its store relocations and downsizing [34][35] Group 3: Brand Positioning and Strategy - Haagen-Dazs has historically positioned itself as a luxury brand, with the highest average price for a double scoop ice cream in China at $9.89 [12][14] - The brand's strategy included creating a luxurious in-store experience and leveraging gift-giving opportunities, such as the introduction of mooncakes [17][21] - However, the brand's high pricing strategy is now being challenged by the increasing affordability of competing products, particularly in the tea drink segment [38][40] Group 4: Operational Challenges - Haagen-Dazs has attempted to pivot towards retail and e-commerce channels, but the ice cream market's low online penetration (20% as of 2021) poses significant challenges [35] - The brand faces high cold chain costs and short shelf life for its products, making it difficult to compete with the operational efficiency of tea brands [47][49] - Despite promotional efforts, such as discounted coffee to attract customers, the core ice cream product line remains difficult to scale due to its inherent supply chain constraints [50][52]
哈根达斯还是不够贵