Make Mixue, Make Me Hotter! How This Ice Cream & Tea Brand Took Over Malaysian Hearts

I bet you’re now familiar with the Mixue Jingle. As a brand, Mixue came in at the right place and the right time. Due to our hot tropical weather, Malaysians are constantly looking for food that will cool them down. And with the massive BDS movement for McDonalds and other ice cream brands, Mixue feels like a saving grace. Mixue, a Chinese ice cream and tea brand, has emerged as a significant player, rapidly gaining popularity across the country. In this article, we’ll explore Mixue Malaysia, its success, the factors driving its rise, and the competitive landscape it navigates within the F&B industry.

The Origins of Mixue: From Humble Beginnings to Global Expansion

Mixue was founded in 1997 in Zhengzhou, China, by Zhang Hongchao, who started with a simple dream of offering affordable ice cream to the masses. Over the years, Mixue expanded its offerings to include a variety of ice cream, tea, and other beverages, catering to a broad audience. The brand’s commitment to affordability without compromising on quality quickly resonated with consumers, allowing it to grow exponentially within China and eventually going global.

In recent years, Mixue has made significant inroads into Southeast Asia, with Malaysia being a key market. The brand’s entry into Malaysia was met with enthusiasm, particularly among younger consumers who are always on the lookout for trendy and affordable food options.

The Popularity of Mixue Malaysia

Mixue Malaysia’s popularity can be attributed to several factors:

1. Affordable Pricing

One of the most compelling reasons for Mixue’s success in Malaysia is its affordability. In a market where premium ice cream and bubble tea brands often come with high price tags, Mixue offers a refreshing alternative. Its pricing strategy makes it accessible to a wide demographic, including students and young professionals who are price-conscious but still crave high-quality treats.

2. Product Variety

Mixue’s menu offers a wide range of products, from its signature snow ice and bubble teas to fruit teas and specialty drinks. This variety appeals to a broad audience, ensuring that there’s something for everyone. Additionally, the brand frequently introduces new flavours and limited-time offerings, keeping the menu fresh and exciting for frequent customers.

3. Strategic Locations

Mixue has strategically chosen its store locations in Malaysia, focusing on high-traffic areas such as shopping malls, university campuses, and busy commercial districts. This accessibility makes it convenient for consumers to grab a quick treat, further boosting the brand’s popularity.

4. Social Media Savvy

Mixue has effectively leveraged social media to build its brand presence in Malaysia. Creative campaigns, user-generated content, and collaborations with local influencers have helped Mixue connect with its target audience, particularly younger consumers who are highly active online.

One of Mixue’s strengths on social media is its consistency with campaigns, product highlights, and the use of the Mixue ‘Snow King’. It appears consistently throughout their ads, and social media posts and successfully ingrained itself in consumers’ minds. When they see the big walking snowman with a crown and a red cape, they think of Mixue and might go to the nearest Mixue outlets or kiosk.

They also consistently put up contests on their TikTok and Instagram with attractive prizes like a Xiaomi phone or interactive ones that made the audience go out and take a photo of Malaysian landmarks alongside Snow King.

5. Quality and Consistency

While consumers know Mixue as an ice cream brand, they are more of a supply chain company. Considering their growth, it is still insane how they could go to this extent with their below market price point. So, how do they do it? They integrate brand operations, R&D, production, warehouse chain with their own system and logistics all under one roof. With everything centralised, they could maintain their ‘below market price’ DNA, ensure product quality, and stable supply of war materials. Not to mention this would ensure smooth operations and consistent quality of their franchisees. This consistency has helped the brand build trust and loyalty among customers, who know they can rely on Mixue for a satisfying treat every time.

Mixue Malaysia and Its Impact on Local F&B Industry

Mixue’s success in Malaysia has had a noticeable impact on the F&B industry, particularly in the dessert and beverage segments. Its rapid expansion and the enthusiastic response from consumers have forced competitors to take notice and adapt.

1. Competitive Pressure on Established Brands

Mixue’s presence has created significant competition for established ice cream and bubble tea brands in Malaysia. Premium brands like Baskin Robbins, Haagen-Dazs, and Chatime, which traditionally dominated the market, have had to rethink their pricing and marketing strategies to retain their customer base. Some have responded by introducing more affordable options or limited-time discounts to compete with Mixue’s pricing model. Mixue also faces a close competition with Tealive. You can read more about them in this article.

2. Market Expansion for Chinese Brands

Mixue’s success story is a testament to the growing influence of Chinese F&B brands in Malaysia. It has paved the way for other Chinese brands to enter the market, contributing to the diversification of Malaysia’s F&B landscape. This trend reflects broader global shifts, where Chinese companies are increasingly expanding their footprints in international markets. Another example would be Chagee as they are rapidly gaining market share in Malaysia, overthrowing giant brands such as Starbucks.

3. Challenges for Local Businesses

While Mixue’s rise has been impressive, it has also posed challenges for local F&B businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that may not have the resources to compete on price or scale. According to bubble tea vlogger Stacy Chen in a Malay Mail article, “The existing market is saturated. Reducing prices is the only feasible way (for companies) to highlight their market competitiveness.”

As a result, some local businesses have been forced to close or pivot to niche markets to survive the intensified competition.

The Future of Mixue Malaysia

The future looks bright for Mixue in Malaysia, but success is not guaranteed. As the brand continues to expand, it will need to navigate the challenges of maintaining quality, staying competitive, and adapting to evolving consumer preferences.

1. Continued Expansion

Mixue is likely to continue its aggressive expansion strategy, opening more outlets across Malaysia to increase its market presence. However, this expansion must be carefully managed to avoid oversaturation and ensure that each new outlet meets the brand’s standards.

2. Digital Transformation

As the F&B industry becomes increasingly digitised, Mixue may explore opportunities to enhance its online presence and engage with customers through digital channels. This could include developing a mobile app for convenient ordering, implementing a loyalty program, or expanding its delivery services through partnerships with food delivery platforms.

3. Product Innovation

To stay ahead of the competition, Mixue will need to continue innovating its product offerings. This could involve introducing new flavours, experimenting with different ingredients, or even venturing into new product categories like snacks or desserts. Recently, Mixue just launched their coffee series and of course, all Malaysian foodies are beyond excited to flock to their nearest outlet.

Final Thoughts

Mixue’s rise in Malaysia’s F&B scene shows how well the brand connects with consumers by offering affordable, quality products. Despite facing tough competition, Mixue has carved out a strong presence and is poised for further growth. As the brand continues to navigate the Malaysian market, its future success will hinge on its ability to innovate, maintain quality, and build deeper connections with its customers. In such a competitive industry, Mixue proves that a smart strategy can help even a newcomer make a big splash.

Want to break through like Mixue? Let’s have a chat, preferably over a nice ice cream or cold dessert.