Core Insights - The new tea beverage industry is experiencing a recovery in store openings as summer approaches, with a total of 1,857 new stores opened in April, representing a 25.05% increase from March, but a 34.22% decrease year-on-year [2][5] - The total number of existing stores reached 112,252, an increase of 1,569 from the previous month [2] Store Opening Trends - Among 26 tracked brands, 17 opened more stores in April compared to March, with Mixue Ice City leading with 784 new openings, followed by Hu Shang A Yi with 190, and Ye Ye Bu Pao Cha with 122 [5][6] - Despite the increase in openings compared to March, the year-on-year performance remains weak, with only three brands showing significant growth: Ye Ye Bu Pao Cha (+197.56%), Happy Sweet Potato (+94.12%), and Jasmine Milk White (+49.15%) [5][6] - Several brands, including Heytea and Nayuki, exhibited a cautious approach to store openings, with a reduction of approximately 90% year-on-year [5][6] Competitive Landscape - The competitive dynamics among the top five new tea beverage groups have shifted, with brands like Gu Ming, Cha Bai Dao, Hu Shang A Yi, Ba Wang Cha Ji, and Yi He Tang experiencing fluctuations in store numbers [5][6] - As of March 2025, Gu Ming has 9,702 stores, maintaining its second position, while Cha Bai Dao has 8,049 stores, showing a notable decline in store count [6] Product Development and Marketing Strategies - In April, the frequency of new product launches increased, with nearly 90 new SKUs introduced, a 45% rise from March [13] - Seasonal fruits, particularly Yangmei and lemon, dominated the new product offerings, with nine brands launching products featuring Yangmei [13][14] - The trend of co-branding has decreased, with only nine brands engaging in ten co-branding activities in April, focusing primarily on secondary IP collaborations [13][14] Industry Outlook - The new tea beverage market is entering a phase of internal competition, with brands adopting a more restrained approach to product launches and marketing strategies, focusing on quality and stability rather than rapid expansion [14]