History
Chicecream was founded in Shanghai on 14 March 2018.[4][5] The founder and CEO Lin Sheng is an entrepreneur who previously worked in advertising.[6] The company's first six products were introduced on 20 May 2018.[7][5] The company is a pioneer in the domestic premium ice cream industry in China: in the past, only foreign ice cream brands like Häagen-Dazs were seen as high-end, while domestic brands such as Mengniu and Yili were seen as lower-end.[6]
Chicecream focused on online sales rather than sales in physical stores, and worked to get internet celebrities to promote its products.[6] One popular blogger, Li Jiaqi, recommended Chicecream in 2020. The brand grew rapidly in popularity and at one point became the most-searched product on Xiaohongshu.[8]
In 2019, Chicecream was fined by regulators in Shanghai for deceptive advertising. The company's advertisements falsely said that the ice cream did not contain any water and that it was made using imported Japanese tea leaves, among other inaccurate claims.[6][9][10]
In 2020, the company was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to brand manager Huang Ying, Chicecream's aged Irish cheese ice cream was unavailable for months because the cheese could not be imported due to COVID-related shipping disruption. However, Huang also said that the pandemic was good for sales, due to the increased popularity of online shopping.[11][12]
In May 2021, Chicecream raised 200 million RMB in Series A financing.[6]
In summer 2022, controversy erupted online around claims that Chicecream's products do not melt. On 25 June 2022, a user found that after leaving a Chicecream bar out at a temperature of 31 C for 50 minutes, it developed a thick, sticky texture but did not become watery or lose its shape.[13] Users speculated that the ice cream did not melt due to preservatives, coagulants, or other additives, such as carrageenan.[13] On 5 July, a viral video showed that a salted coconut flavored Chicecream bar did not melt even under extreme heat, leading viewers to worry about the contents of Chicecream's ice cream and whether it is safe to eat.[14][15] In response, the company said that the product's physical behavior is because it contains a high concentration of solid particles and relatively little water.[13] The company said that its products satisfy regulatory standards, including national standard GB/T 31119-2014, which regulates frozen desserts.[14][15]
On 6 June 2025, the company filed for bankruptcy at the Shanghai City Yangpu District People's Court.[1][16]
