The Impulso Podcast E131: Inside Luckin Coffee: How they launch 119 drinks a year
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Aug 22, 2025 Luckin Coffee is shaking up the beverage scene with an astonishing 119 new drinks in a year, outpacing Starbucks significantly. Discover how they use data-driven research to innovate flavors like the grape fizz Americano and minty coconut latte. The brand employs a unique 'horse-racing' method for rapid product development, testing multiple variations at once. As they expand globally, Luckin introduces country-specific flavors, ensuring local tastes are embraced. Don’t miss the taste test of these quirky concoctions!
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Relentless Product Velocity
- Luckin launched 119 SKUs in 2024, about one new drink every three days.
- This pace far exceeds Starbucks' publicly-known beverage launches and signals a different innovation model.
Moutai Latte Launch Crash
- Luckin's Moutai latte sold about 5.4 million cups on its first day and overloaded app systems.
- The collaboration leveraged Moutai's brand curiosity to drive massive immediate demand.
Data-Led Product Planning
- Luckin's R&D is heavily data-driven, using app and social trends to decide new flavours.
- Creative teams add variations, but data directs which concepts move forward.