China’s largest coffee chain has opened four outlets in New York over the last two months and is tapping into the familiarity of delivery to boost sales and brand recognition in the competitive US branded coffee shop market
Chinese coffee giant Luckin Coffee has signed its first major US delivery deal as it seeks to strengthen its availability in New York.
The Beijing-based operator made its US debut with two outlets in the city in June 2025 and has since added two further sites on 8th Avenue and Fulton Street. Its new partnership with delivery platform DoorDash, which covers three of the sites, is part of a strategy to boost brand awareness in New York and lay down a further challenge to rival Starbucks, which operates nearly 200 outlets in the city.
Delivery is the latest step in Luckin’s digital-first approach in the US, with its stores promoting cashless transactions and app-based ordering, which minimises labour and operational costs.
The format is a key revenue driver for Luckin in its home market, where the majority of its 26,117 stores are small-format, takeaway-only or delivery dark kitchens. In the second quarter of 2025, Luckin’s delivery expenses increased 175% year-on-year to reach RMB 1.7bn ($232.8m) – representing 16% of the coffee chain’s total operating expenses.
DoorDash currently partners with over 7,200 restaurants in New York, according to its website. Its coffee chain partners in the city include Starbucks, Blue Bottle Coffee, Gregorys Coffee, Joe Coffee, Bluestone Lane, Joe & The Juice and Paris Baguette.
