Founded in 1997 by Zhang Hongchao as a side hustle to support his family's finances, Mixue, officially known as Mìxuě Bīngchéng, operates under a franchise model that distinguishes it from direct-operating chains like Starbucks. In contrast to previous market challenges faced by competitors, Mixue's debut underscores resilience amidst China’s economic complexities as it plans future expansion.