Gloria Jean's First China Shipping Container Coffee Shop Opens in Shanghai

In Shanghai’s fast-paced urban environment, coffee drinkers increasingly seek more than just caffeine—they want experience, design, and atmosphere. So when a global brand rolls out a completely reimagined café space, the question isn’t just ‘Is it worth visiting?’, it’s ‘How did they do that?’.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees opened its ninth Shanghai location—and its first-ever shipping container-based concept store—on May 11 in the Hongqiao Lingkong Economic Park. The flagship design features six repurposed containers forming the entire structure.

Australia’s Global Coffee Brand Expands in Shanghai

Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Australia’s largest national coffee chain, officially launched its newest Shanghai outlet on May 11. The event marked the brand’s continued push into the Chinese market, with RFG Group CEO Tony Alford attending the opening ceremony. The store is strategically located in the Hongqiao Lingkong Economic Park, benefitting from the district’s status as part of Shanghai’s financial and commercial hub.

A Café Built from Six Shipping Containers

The most eye-catching aspect of the new store is its bold architectural design: the entire café is built from six interconnected shipping containers. Inspired by similar commercial designs in Christchurch, New Zealand, the containers were chosen not just for visual impact but for modular flexibility. The exterior features a bold red colour scheme, inspired by Australia’s iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock), helping the structure stand out visually while nodding to the brand’s home country. Multiple window cutouts have been added throughout the containers to enhance natural light and prevent the usual confined feeling of shipping container interiors. The roof is covered with Uniroof panels, adding insulation and creating visual depth.

A Garden Café in the Middle of the City

Beyond the striking architecture, Gloria Jean’s Lingkong store is designed as a cross between an urban garden and a café. The interior and exterior feature abundant floral arrangements and potted greenery, creating what the brand calls an “urban oasis” or “green fairyland.” This design aims to offer city dwellers a refreshing break from the typical concrete-and-steel surroundings. Surrounding the café is nearly 600 square metres of open lawn space, offering both privacy and versatility—ideal for private events, corporate gatherings, or casual meetups.

Gloria Jean’s Global Footprint and Coffee Philosophy

With over 1,200 stores across 42 countries and six continents, Gloria Jean’s has positioned itself as a global retailer of Australian-style coffee and food. The brand emphasises quality preparation, with trained baristas controlling critical variables such as grind size, brew flow rate, and crema texture to ensure consistency and quality in every cup. While many view coffee as merely a trend, Gloria Jean’s treats it as part of a broader lifestyle and cultural experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Gloria Jean’s new shipping container café located in Shanghai?

Gloria Jean’s new shipping container concept store is located in Shanghai’s Hongqiao Lingkong Economic Park, a district within the larger Hongqiao development zone.

When did the new Gloria Jean’s container store open?

The store officially opened on May 11, with attendance by RFG Group CEO Tony Alford representing Gloria Jean’s Australian headquarters.

What makes the new Gloria Jean’s store in Shanghai unique?

The Shanghai Lingkong store is the brand’s first in China built entirely from six shipping containers. It also features an urban garden design with over 600 sqm of surrounding lawn and abundant floral decor.

How many containers were used to build the Gloria Jean’s Shanghai café?

The café structure is made up of six individual shipping containers, which were assembled and modified to create the complete retail space.

What is the concept behind the café’s design?

The design combines industrial shipping container architecture with an urban garden theme, using red colouring inspired by Australia’s Uluru and incorporating fresh flowers and plants throughout the space.

How many Gloria Jean’s locations are there globally?

Gloria Jean’s operates over 1,200 stores across 42 countries on six continents.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Urban Cafés

For a café like Gloria Jean’s new Shanghai container concept, FrontStreet Coffee’s PWN Golden Mandheling offers deep, smooth flavours with low acidity—ideal for classic espresso drinks. The Brazil Queen Manor provides balanced nut and caramel notes, perfect for milk-based coffees. Both beans are reliable, high-quality options that align with Gloria Jean’s focus on consistent, premium brews. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.