Bubble Tea Chain Plans Big U.S. Push

Gong cha (London) has unveiled plans to more than double its American presence, mainly via additional locales in Western states. The chain, which was founded in Taiwan in 2006 and later moved its global headquarters to London, currently has 240 U.S. stores.

“With more than 200 stores east of the Rockies, we’ve laid a strong foundation—and now we’re building on that momentum with a bold push across the Western U.S.,” said Mark Treptow, VP of Franchise Sales & Development for Gong cha Americas. “The strength of our brand is attracting experienced, multi-unit operators who see real opportunity in this category, and we’re confident in our goal of surpassing 500 U.S. locations in the next three years.”

A big part of that growth is slated for California, where the brand has re-acquired its franchise rights. With 27 locations already operating in the Golden State, Gong cha said it plans to grow its presence there to 200 stores.

Other target states include Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah and Washington. (The brand’s first locale in the Seattle area is slated to open later this spring.) Overall, Gong cha has nearly 2200 locations in 29 international markets.