McDonald’s Coffee Crew Takes on Starbucks in China

In China’s booming coffee market, two giants are ramping up their battle for cup space—and staff. As both McDonald’s and Starbucks push deeper into the country, the competition isn’t just about beans or branding. It’s now about who can hire and train more skilled coffee workers to fuel their rapid store expansions.

McDonald’s plans to recruit around 2,000 dedicated 'baristas' for its McCafé brand in China by the end of 2013, while also expanding McCafé locations to over 750 stores—a 45% increase. Starbucks, meanwhile, aims to grow its China workforce from 12,000 to 30,000 and its store count from 800 to 1,500 in the same timeframe.

McDonald’s Doubles Down on McCafé

McDonald’s (China) Vice President and South Region General Manager Li Hui announced the brand’s push into professional coffee service with the recruitment of approximately 2,000 baristas. This move supports the rapid expansion of McCafé, McDonald’s in-house coffee brand, which is on track to exceed 750 outlets in China by the end of 2013—a 45% year-on-year growth.

Starbucks Accelerates Its China Rollout

Starbucks has revealed its own aggressive expansion strategy for the Chinese market. The company, which currently employs 12,000 people across 800 stores, plans to increase its workforce to 30,000 and its store network to 1,500 locations within the next two years. This signals a major bet on long-term growth in the region.

Why Coffee Talent Matters in China

Both companies are investing heavily not only in real estate and retail footprint but also in human resources. The push to hire trained baristas reflects a shift in strategy: from simply selling coffee as a commodity to offering a more crafted, customer-facing coffee experience. In a competitive market like China, skilled staff are essential for maintaining quality, driving brand loyalty, and supporting rapid expansion.

What This Means for the China Coffee Scene

The simultaneous scaling by McDonald’s and Starbucks will significantly impact China’s coffee retail landscape. With McCafé aiming for over 750 stores and Starbucks targeting 1,500, the availability of professionally trained baristas will be a key differentiator. This recruitment race underscores the growing sophistication of coffee culture in China and the increasing demand for quality coffee service across multiple price points.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many baristas is McDonald’s hiring in China?

McDonald’s is recruiting approximately 2,000 dedicated baristas for its McCafé brand in China as part of its expansion plan for 2013.

How many McCafé stores will McDonald’s have in China by the end of 2013?

McCafé, McDonald’s coffee brand, is expected to operate over 750 stores in China by the end of 2013, marking a 45% increase in outlets.

What are Starbucks’ hiring and store growth targets in China?

Starbucks plans to grow its China workforce from 12,000 to 30,000 employees and expand its store count from 800 to 1,500 over the next two years.

Why are McDonald’s and Starbucks hiring so many baristas in China?

Both chains are expanding rapidly in China and need more skilled coffee staff to maintain service quality and support their aggressive store growth strategies.

Which brand is expanding faster in China—McCafé or Starbucks?

By the numbers, McCafé is growing its store count by 45% to over 750 in 2013, while Starbucks is aiming for a larger absolute increase from 800 to 1,500 stores in two years.

Is the competition between McDonald’s and Starbucks focused only on stores?

No, the rivalry includes hiring skilled baristas, improving coffee offerings, and competing for market share in China’s fast-growing coffee sector.

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