Mixue & Zus Coffee join M'sia Ramadan bazaars, sparks debate about competition

Malaysians have recently expressed surprise to see big chain brands Mixue and Zus Coffee setting up stalls at Ramadan bazaars around the country.

Reactions have been mixed, as these new contenders appeared amid growing concerns over food prices and quality at the bazaars.

The two brands were selling their drinks at prices generally cheaper than the smaller businesses.

Malaysian chain Zus Coffee offered their Chocolate Coffee and White Coffee for only RM3.90 (S$1.30) a cup, though they were made from the brand's line of instant premix packets, Ngupi.

Chinese brand Mixue sold their drinks similarly at RM4 (S$1.30) a cup, The Rakyat Post reported.

According to a Threads user, their stalls have been spotted in various cities, including Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Petaling Jaya.

Disruptive or healthy competition?

This change in the bazaar scene has raised concerns about the impact on smaller vendors.

In a post on X that has been viewed over 530,000 times, a user said "it should be illegal for big companies to compete with Ramadan bazaar small traders for market share given this will kill the small business owners".

According to influencer and teacher Mohd Fadli Salleh, many of the smaller vendors have complained about declining sales after the big brands joined the bazaars.

However, many commenters responded positively to the change, believing that the big brands can help to create healthy competition.

They also lamented buying overpriced drinks from smaller vendors that did not taste good.

"Let those who sell expensive drinks feel the pressure," one wrote. "They’re selling at hefty prices, but their drinks are watered down. One cup for RM8 (S$2.60). It’s better to buy Mixue’s lemonade, which is only RM3.50 (S$1.15)."

Another Facebook user posted that supporting small traders does not mean turning a blind eye to "unreasonable prices and declining quality", as quoted by The New Straits Times.

"Hawkers want income, and buyers want value for money," they added. "In bazaars full of choices, fairness should go both ways."

Under the comments, a man shared that he bought a viral watermelon drink for RM8 (S$2.60), but it had turned sour by the time he broke fast.

A similar discussion took place on Threads, where a user said, "We need more players to strike a balance in the market. Hopefully, other merchants can improve quality and provide more value to consumers."

Top images via ngomel._/Threads