A culture shock from McDonald’s to Chagee

The Chinese lack of fear of failure

Becoming “the Starbucks of tea”

The secret behind scaling a business quickly

How Chagee localises for different markets

Expanding faster than demand can keep up?

Taking lessons from other successful brands 

Will Chagee be yet another F&B fad?

S'pore's influx of Chinese retail brands

How China is building global brands

After 16 years at McDonald's, Chagee APAC CMO shares how Chinese companies operate differently in the global arena

Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each Wednesday, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.

What does it take to turn a Chinese tea chain into a global brand? And what can China's new generation of consumer companies learn from the likes of McDonald's and Starbucks?

Eugene Lee has seen both sides of the divide. After 16 years at McDonald's, where he rose to become international chief marketing officer, he joined Shanghai-headquartered Chagee as its Asia-Pacific chief marketing officer in 2025.

In this conversation with The Straits Times’ senior columnist Tan Dawn Wei, Lee describes the culture shock of moving from an 86-year-old American multinational to a fast-moving young Chinese company, where ideas can become reality within days. He explains how Chagee uses automation, standardisation and lessons borrowed from competitors to expand rapidly, and why building emotional connections with consumers matters as much as selling a good product.

He also addresses Chagee’s falling market valuation, slowing sales and the risk of becoming another passing fad in the food and beverage industry. Beyond tea, the conversation explores China's remarkable transformation from the world's factory into a creator of increasingly ambitious - and desirable - global brands.

Highlights (click/tap above): 

2:40 A culture shock from McDonald’s to Chagee

5:12 The Chinese lack of fear of failure

15:01 Becoming “the Starbucks of tea”

18:26 The secret behind scaling a business quickly

23:14 How Chagee localises for different markets

28:19 Is Chagee expanding faster than consumer demand can keep up?

31:15 Taking lessons from other successful Chinese F&B brands 

34:05 Will Chagee be yet another F&B fad?

39:57 The influx of Chinese retail brands to Singapore and the anxiety it brings 

42:50 How China is building global brands

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Host: Tan Dawn Wei (dawntan@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Executive producers: Danson Cheong & Lynda Hong

Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukb

Spotify: https://str.sg/w7sV

YouTube: https://str.sg/GjMT

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

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Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#inyouropinion

After 16 years at McDonald's, Chagee APAC CMO shares how Chinese companies operate differently in the global arena
Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each Wednesday, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.
What does it take to turn a Chinese tea chain into a global brand? And what can China's new generation of consumer companies learn from the likes of McDonald's and Starbucks?
Eugene Lee has seen both sides of the divide. After 16 years at McDonald's, where he rose to become international chief marketing officer, he joined Shanghai-headquartered Chagee as its Asia-Pacific chief marketing officer in 2025.
In this conversation with The Straits Times&rsquo; senior columnist Tan Dawn Wei, Lee describes the culture shock of moving from an 86-year-old American multinational to a fast-moving young Chinese company, where ideas can become reality within days. He explains how Chagee uses automation, standardisation and lessons borrowed from competitors to expand rapidly, and why building emotional connections with consumers matters as much as selling a good product.
He also addresses Chagee&rsquo;s falling market valuation, slowing sales and the risk of becoming another passing fad in the food and beverage industry. Beyond tea, the conversation explores China's remarkable transformation from the world's factory into a creator of increasingly ambitious - and desirable - global brands.
Highlights (click/tap above):&nbsp;
2:40 A culture shock from McDonald&rsquo;s to Chagee
5:12 The Chinese lack of fear of failure
15:01 Becoming &ldquo;the Starbucks of tea&rdquo;
18:26 The secret behind scaling a business quickly
23:14 How Chagee localises for different markets
28:19 Is Chagee expanding faster than consumer demand can keep up?
31:15 Taking lessons from other successful Chinese F&amp;B brands&nbsp;
34:05 Will Chagee be yet another F&amp;B fad?
39:57 The influx of Chinese retail brands to Singapore and the anxiety it brings&nbsp;
42:50 How China is building global brands
Read ST&rsquo;s Opinion section:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/w7sH?ref=inline-article">https://str.sg/w7sH</a>
Host: Tan Dawn Wei (dawntan@sph.com.sg)
Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai
Executive producers: Danson Cheong &amp; Lynda Hong
Follow In Your Opinion Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel:<a href="https://str.sg/w7Qt">&nbsp;https://str.sg/w7Qt</a>
Apple Podcasts:<a href="https://str.sg/wukb">&nbsp;https://str.sg/wukb</a>
Spotify:<a href="https://str.sg/w7sV">&nbsp;https://str.sg/w7sV</a>
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/GjMT">https://str.sg/GjMT</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>&nbsp;
Get more updates:&nbsp;<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>&nbsp;
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB">&nbsp;https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#inyouropinion

A hard look at the social issues of the month in Singapore. Join ST journalists and other guests as they discuss with Lydia Wong.

Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each Wednesday, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.

Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Danson Cheong & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Conversations and interviews that give you something to think about. Each Wednesday, In Your Opinion speaks to thinkers, leaders, and the people shaping our lives and the issues of the day.
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Danson Cheong &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.