Core Viewpoint - The closure of all LELECHA stores in Zhengzhou and the significant reduction in the number of stores nationwide highlight the challenges faced by the brand in a competitive market [1]. Company Overview - LELECHA, founded in Shanghai in 2016, gained popularity with its "dirty bread" product and expanded rapidly, reaching over 399 stores across 27 provinces and 79 cities [1]. - The brand has recently faced a decline, with 132 store closures in the past year, indicating a negative growth trend [1]. Financial and Investment Insights - In 2022, Nayuki Tea acquired a 43.64% stake in LELECHA for 525 million yuan, valuing the company at approximately 1.2 billion yuan [8]. - The investment is expected to provide LELECHA with advantages in store expansion, supply chain, and digitalization while maintaining its independent operations [8]. Market Competition - The competitive landscape for milk tea brands has intensified, with many initial popular brands like LELECHA facing pressure from new entrants [8]. - As of January 2026, the total number of milk tea brands exceeded 4,000, with nearly 400,000 stores, but the net growth in stores has been negative, with a decrease of 35,000 stores in the past year [9].

Core Viewpoint - Recent reports indicate that all Lele Tea stores in Zhengzhou have closed, with similar claims from Guangzhou, raising significant public attention [1][3]. Group 1: Store Closures and Current Status - Lele Tea's official customer service confirmed that there are currently no stores in Zhengzhou [3]. - In 2022, all Lele Tea stores in Guangzhou were closed, which is notable as Guangzhou has the highest number of milk tea stores in China, with nearly 14,000 [3]. - Over the past year, Lele Tea has closed 132 stores, leaving a total of 399 operational stores across 27 provinces and 79 cities [5]. Group 2: Historical Context and Growth - Lele Tea opened its first store in Shanghai in February 2016, initially focusing on "tea drinks + soft packages" [5]. - The brand gained popularity in 2017 with the "dirty bag" pastry, surpassing competitors like Lady M in Shanghai [5]. - In 2019, Lele Tea completed a Pre-A round financing of nearly 200 million yuan, leading to rapid expansion across major cities [8]. Group 3: Market Position and Competition - Lele Tea's market valuation was approximately 1.203 billion yuan after a 5.25 billion yuan acquisition of a 43.64% stake by Nayuki Tea [8]. - The competitive landscape has intensified, with new milk tea brands emerging, leading to a contraction in the market for initial popular brands like Lele Tea [12]. - As of January 12, 2026, the total number of milk tea brands exceeded 4,000, with nearly 400,000 stores, but the net growth has been negative, with a decrease of 35,000 stores in the past year [12].

Core Viewpoint - The tea brand Lele Tea is facing significant challenges, including the closure of all its stores in Zhengzhou and Guangzhou, leading to a total of 132 store closures in the past year, resulting in a negative growth in store numbers [1][9]. Company Overview - As of now, Lele Tea operates 399 stores across 27 provinces and 79 cities, with a customer satisfaction score of 83.92 [2][10]. - The brand has a high concentration of stores in Shanghai and Jiangsu, while several provinces have only one store each, indicating a lack of market penetration in those areas [9]. Investment and Ownership - In December 2022, Nayuki Tea acquired a 43.64% stake in Lele Tea for 525 million yuan, making it the largest shareholder. This investment valued Lele Tea at approximately 1.2 billion yuan [7][15]. - Following the acquisition, Lele Tea will remain an independent entity but will benefit from Nayuki's resources in areas such as store expansion and supply chain management [15]. Market Competition - The competitive landscape for tea brands has intensified, with many initial popular brands like Lele Tea facing pressure from new entrants. This has led to a contraction in the market, with a reported net decrease of 35,000 stores in the past year across the industry [8][16]. - Notably, other established brands like Heytea and Nayuki Tea have also been closing stores, indicating a broader trend of scaling back in the face of fierce competition [8][16].

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the resurgence of apple-flavored products in the beverage market, particularly during the holiday season, showcasing innovative offerings and consumer enthusiasm for apple-based drinks. Group 1: Product Launches and Consumer Response - Lele Tea's "Pineapple Apple Candy" has become a viral sensation on social media, integrating festive street food into a tea drink, leading to significant consumer engagement with over 170 million views on the keyword "apple candy" [1][5] - Following mixed reviews, Lele Tea issued an apology and took corrective actions to ensure product quality, which has since led to the reintroduction of the apple candy series in stores [3] - Multiple brands have launched apple-flavored products, including "One Red Apple" series by Grandpa Tea and various offerings from Yihuo Tang and Meiyu Milk, reflecting a trend towards apple as a popular flavor [6] Group 2: Innovation in Apple Beverage Offerings - The beverage market has seen a surge in apple drink innovations, with 9 new apple products launched in October, 17 in November, and 24 in December, indicating a vibrant trend [9] - Creative presentations such as "Deconstructed Apple" and "Apple Cinnamon Milkshake" have gained popularity, enhancing the visual appeal and consumer interest in apple-based drinks [10][12] - The versatility of apple as an ingredient is highlighted, with successful combinations including apple with milk foam, savory cheese, and yogurt, making it a key component in festive drink offerings [15][19] Group 3: Regional and Quality Emphasis - The use of specific apple varieties from regions like Wanglin and Xinjiang Akesu has been leveraged to enhance product value and consumer perception, with successful launches noted for their unique flavor profiles [21][23] - Brands are emphasizing the quality of their apple sources, with marketing strategies focusing on regional authenticity and the unique characteristics of different apple varieties [25] Group 4: Market Positioning and Future Outlook - Apples are positioned as an ideal ingredient in the beverage industry due to their stable supply and affordability, which supports product standardization and the creation of popular items [26] - The article anticipates continued innovation in apple beverages, extending beyond flavor combinations to include creative designs and diverse consumption scenarios, indicating a shift in the perception of apples from a mundane fruit to a beverage trendsetter [26]

Core Viewpoint - The recent launch of the new product "Apple Candy" by the well-known milk tea brand Lele Tea has faced significant criticism from customers regarding its quality and presentation [1][7]. Group 1: Product Issues - Customers reported multiple issues with the "Apple Candy," including that the apples were not coated in sugar, the sugar coating was insufficient leading to oxidation, and the coating was too thick making it overly sticky [7][8]. - There were complaints about the temperature of the syrup being too high, which caused the apples to darken in color, and issues with the decoration being improperly placed or missing [7][8]. Group 2: Pricing and Customer Feedback - The price for the new product "Pineapple Apple Candy" is set at 26 yuan per cup, with an additional charge of 9.9 yuan for "one piece of apple candy" [4]. - Customers expressed dissatisfaction with the discrepancy between the actual product and promotional images, indicating a gap in expectations [5]. Group 3: Company Response - Lele Tea issued an apology acknowledging the feedback and admitted to shortcomings in preparation and product stability, which affected customer experience [7]. - Following the feedback, the company conducted a nationwide review of the "Apple Candy" products, removing non-compliant items from sale and enforcing corrective measures at affected stores [8].

Core Viewpoint - Recent consumer complaints about the new product "Apple Candy" from the popular milk tea brand Lelecha highlight issues with taste and quality, leading to an apology and corrective actions from the company [1][3]. Group 1: Product Issues - Consumers criticized the "Pineapple Apple Candy" for being overly sticky and not matching promotional images, with some suggesting it resembled glue [1][3]. - The product was priced at 26 yuan per cup, with an additional charge of 9.9 yuan for "one piece of apple candy," but it has since been removed from the ordering app [3]. - Lelecha identified several problems with the product, including apples not being coated in sugar, insufficient sugar coating leading to oxidation, overly thick sugar causing stickiness, high syrup temperatures darkening the apples, and improper decoration [6]. Group 2: Company Response and Future Plans - On December 20, Lelecha issued an apology and stated that non-compliant products were removed from stores, with corrective measures taken at affected locations [3][6]. - The company plans to increase its total number of stores from over 400 to 700 by 2025, focusing on franchise operations to enhance market competitiveness, despite previous rumors of closing all direct stores [6]. - Lelecha, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Shanghai, is known for its innovative fruit and cheese tea offerings and was partially acquired by Nayuki for 5.25 billion yuan, becoming its largest shareholder [6].

Core Viewpoint - Lele Tea issued an apology statement regarding quality issues with its new "Apple Candy" product, acknowledging customer complaints and taking corrective actions [1] Group 1: Product Issues - Customers reported multiple problems with the "Apple Candy" product, including apples not being coated in sugar, insufficient sugar leading to oxidation, overly thick sugar causing stickiness, high syrup temperature darkening the apples, and improper decoration [1] - The company admitted that internal oversight and preparation shortcomings led to inconsistent product quality, negatively impacting customer experience [1] Group 2: Corrective Actions - Following the complaints, Lele Tea conducted a nationwide inspection of its stores, removing non-compliant products and mandating immediate rectification at affected locations, with severe penalties for stores with significant discrepancies [1] - The "Apple Candy" series is gradually being restored to shelves across the country [1] Group 3: Business Expansion - Recently, Lele Tea announced exclusive agency opportunities in several untapped cities, covering nearly 30 provinces including Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Heilongjiang [1] - Exclusive agents will enjoy "regional exclusivity" for opening stores, free brand image upgrades for the first store, and additional discounts on franchise fees for the second store [1]

Core Viewpoint - Lele Tea has faced customer complaints regarding its new product "Apple Sugar," leading to immediate product recalls and store rectifications. The company has acknowledged its shortcomings in product quality and is taking steps to improve its offerings while expanding its franchise operations. Group 1: Product Issues - Multiple customer complaints were reported on December 19 regarding the "Apple Sugar" product, citing issues such as stickiness and inadequate sugar coating [3] - The company identified several specific problems with the product, including apples not being coated in sugar, insufficient sugar leading to oxidation, overly thick sugar causing stickiness, high syrup temperatures darkening the apples, and improper decoration [4] - Lele Tea has taken corrective actions by removing non-compliant products from shelves and enforcing penalties on stores with significant discrepancies [1] Group 2: Business Expansion and Strategy - Lele Tea announced plans to open exclusive franchise opportunities in nearly 30 provinces, including Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Heilongjiang [4] - The company aims to grow its total number of stores from over 400 to 700 by 2025, focusing on enhancing the competitiveness of franchise stores [4] - In 2022, Nayuki acquired a 43.64% stake in Lele Tea for 5.25 billion yuan, becoming the largest shareholder, although Lele Tea continues to operate independently [5]