Mixue Ice Cream and Tea whitethorn beryllium unfamiliar to galore of america but the Chinese steadfast has much outlets than McDonald's and Starbucks.
On Monday, the bubble beverage chain's shares jumped by much than 40% arsenic they started trading connected the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
The institution raised $444m (£352m) successful the fiscal hub's biggest archetypal nationalist offering (IPO) of the year.
Mixue's popularity comes arsenic galore radical successful China are grappling with the country's economical challenges - including a spot crisis, and anemic user and concern confidence. It sells crystal creams and drinks for an mean of six Chinese yuan ($0.82; £0.65).
The institution was founded successful 1997 by Zhang Hongchao, a pupil astatine Henan University of Finance and Economics, arsenic a portion clip occupation to assistance his family's finances.
Its afloat sanction Mìxuě Bīngchéng means "honey snowfall crystal city", with its stores adorned with its Snow King mascot and playing the firm's authoritative taxable tune connected a loop.
According to Mixue, it has much than 45,000 stores crossed China and 11 different countries, including Singapore and Thailand. The steadfast has besides said it plans to proceed expanding.
That compares to "over 43,000 locations" for McDonald's and Starbucks' 40,576 outlets.
While it is often seen arsenic China's biggest bubble tea, iced drinks, and crystal pick chain, it operates much similar a raw-materials supplier than a accepted brand.
Unlike Starbucks, which operates much than fractional of its stores directly, astir each of Mixue's outlets are tally by franchisees.
Mixue's beardown marketplace debut contrasts with its smaller rival Guming, which saw its stock descent connected its archetypal time of trading successful February.
Last year, shares successful the proprietor of bubble beverage concatenation Chabaidao besides fell connected their marketplace debut.