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Gong Cha - Wikipedia Jump to content

Gong Cha

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gong Cha Global Limited
IndustryFood and beverage
Founded2006; 19 years ago (2006) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Headquarters
London
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Wu Zhenhua (吳振華) (Founder)
Martin Edward Berry (CEO)
ParentGong Cha Korea (70%)
Gong Cha Global (30%)
Websitewww.gong-cha.com
Gong Cha in QV Square, Melbourne, Australia

Gong Cha (Chinese: 貢茶; pinyin: Gòngchá) is a tea drink franchise founded in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.[1][2][3]

Name

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The name is a combination of the Chinese characters "貢", meaning contribution or tribute, and "茶", referring to tea.[4]

History

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Gong Cha, a tea company, was founded in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Its first store in Hong Kong was established in 2009 by a Hong Kong native who had lived in Taiwan for five years.[5]

In 2012, the company had forty-six stores in Hong Kong, primarily located in MTR stations and shopping centers. However, due to various health and safety scandals,[6] the number of stores has decreased to just five. Gong Cha serves approximately fifty-seven different drinks, divided into seven types: house specials, brewed tea, milk tea, Creative Mix, coffee, Healthy Series, and ice smoothies. These drinks are offered in medium and large sizes. Additionally, Gong Cha sells tea sets and various types of tea in stores, such as Bi-Luo-Chun Green Tea and Darjeeling Spring Tea. Some locations also provide food options, including the recent addition of "Mochi Waffles."[7]

In 2017, 70% of ownership was sold to Kim Yeo-Jin (김여진; 金汝貞), owner of Gong Cha Korea, Gong Cha's Korea franchisee, with backing from private equity firm Unison Capital.

In January 2017, Gong Cha's main headquarters was acquired by Gong Cha Korea. CEO Kim Soo-Min has announced plans to expand to the Middle East and Latin America.[8]

In 2019, TA Associates agreed to provide growth investment to Gong Cha and later bought 100% of Gong Cha Korea. UK company GC Group BIDCO Limited bought the remaining 30% in the same year, with GC Group BIDCO renamed to Gong Cha Global in 2020, moving the global headquarters to UK.

In October 2025, it was reported that Gong Cha had closed all its outlets in Singapore.[9] Gong Cha will return to Singapore in 2026 with a new franchise partner.[10]

Stores

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As of 2025 Gong Cha operates over 2100 locations in 28 markets.[11]

Asia

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  • Taiwan (since 2006)[12]
  • Hong Kong (since 2009)[12]
  • Singapore (2009 to 2017; 2017 to 2025; returning in 2026)[13]
  • Macau (since 2010)
  • Malaysia (since 2011)[14]
  • The Philippines (since 2011)
  • South Korea (since 2011)[15]
  • China
  • Brunei (since 2013)[16]
  • Cambodia (2013 to 2016; since 2021)[17][18]
  • Vietnam (since 2014)[19]
  • Myanmar
  • Japan (since 2015)[15]
  • Indonesia (since 2020)[20]
  • Mongolia (since 2025)

Africa and the Middle East

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  • Morocco (since 2024)[21]
  • Saudi Arabia (since 2024)[22]
  • Mauritius (since 2024)[23]
  • Réunion (since 2024)[24]
  • Bahrain (future opening)[25]
  • United Arab Emirates (future opening)[25]

North America

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  • United States (since 2014)[26]
  • Canada
  • Mexico (since 2019)[27]
  • Honduras (since 2024)[28]
  • Panama (since 2024)
  • Puerto Rico (since 2024)[29]
  • The Bahamas (future opening)[30]
  • Costa Rica (future opening)[28]
  • El Salvador (future opening)[28]
  • Guatemala (future opening)[28]

South America

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  • Colombia (since 2025)[31]
  • Ecuador (since 2025)[31]

Europe

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  • England (since 2019)[32]
  • Belgium (since 2022)[33]
  • France (since 2023)[34]
  • Portugal (since 2023)[35]
  • Ireland (since 2025)[36]

Oceania

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  • Australia (since 2012)[37]
  • New Zealand (since 2015)[38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Our Story: The Highest Quality". gong-cha. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  2. ^ "About Gong Cha". gongchausa. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Gong-Cha: Our Tea Story". gong-cha.ca. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Gongcha Daily Tea Place". sampartners. January 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  5. ^ "台飲過江龍 奶泡滑到黏嘴 (Taiwan-style drink 'River-Crossing Dragon': foam so smooth it sticks to your mouth')". The Sun. 2009-06-08. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  6. ^ "香港的營業據點 (Operating locations in Hong Kong)". Gong Cha. Archived from the original on 2014-10-16.
  7. ^ "Drinks and Snacks".
  8. ^ ""맛 빼고는 다 바꿔" 공차코리아 대수술, 본사까지 인수…글로벌 프랜차이즈 주인으로". The Korea Economic Daily. 2016-11-29. Archived from the original on 2019-01-24. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  9. ^ Koh, Wan Ting (2 October 2025). "Bubble tea brand Gong Cha shuts all outlets in Singapore: Report". CNA. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  10. ^ Dong, Irene (2025-10-03). "'We'll be back': Gong Cha exits Singapore, but promises return". Inside Retail Asia. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  11. ^ "International expansion sees Gong cha surpass $600m global sales". World Coffee Portal. 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  12. ^ a b "Gong Cha: A Global Success Brewing from Taiwan". The Franchise Talk. 14 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Gong Cha ceases operations in S'pore, shuts all stores islandwide". The Straits Times. 2025-10-02. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  14. ^ "Gong Cha Malaysia brews brand love with pop culture and plushies". Marketing-Interactive. 2025-07-01. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  15. ^ a b "Gong Cha Korea opens its first franchise in Tokyo". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2015-10-06. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  16. ^ Alwines, Aaron (2018-03-14). "How this IT programmer bounced back after a failed startup to build an F&B giant". Biz Brunei. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  17. ^ Cambodia, B2B (2022-02-08). "Gong Cha Shuts Down Operations in the Kingdom". b2b-cambodia.com. Retrieved 2025-10-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "Top 4 big food brands coming to Cambodia in 2021!". foodbuzz.site. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  19. ^ "Gong Cha launches new brand identity". vietnamnews.vn. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  20. ^ "Growth Partnership Proposal" (PDF). Buka Outlet.
  21. ^ "Gong cha to make North Africa debut with Morocco launch". World Coffee Portal. 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  22. ^ "Gong cha makes Middle East debut with Riyadh store". World Coffee Portal. 2024-07-09. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  23. ^ "Bubble tea chain Gong cha opens first store in Mauritius". World Coffee Portal. 2024-09-02. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  24. ^ "Gong cha Climbs Over 100 Spots in Entrepreneur Magazine's Highly Competitive Franchise 500 ® List, Ranking #181". Business Wire.
  25. ^ a b Magbanua, Djan (2025-08-04). "Gong cha adds dessert to hook Saudi customers | QSR Media Asia". qsrmedia.asia. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  26. ^ "International expansion sees Gong cha surpass $600m global sales". World Coffee Portal. 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  27. ^ Buchanan, Susy (2020-10-22). "Gong Cha plans 100 outlets for its bubble tea by 2024". Mexico News Daily. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  28. ^ a b c d Dong, Irene (2023-12-13). "Gong Cha to expand in the US and Central America". Inside Retail Asia. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  29. ^ "Gong cha signs 30-store franchise agreement in Puerto Rico". World Coffee Portal. 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  30. ^ "Gong cha to make Caribbean debut with luxury resort outlet". World Coffee Portal. 2025-10-02. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  31. ^ a b "Gong cha to launch in Colombia and Ecuador in 2025". World Coffee Portal. 2025-06-17. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  32. ^ "Gong cha signs franchise deal to open 225 UK stores". World Coffee Portal. 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  33. ^ "Gong cha Benelux opens two new sites in Belgium". Global Franchise. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  34. ^ "Gong cha opens first of 200 planned stores in France". World Coffee Portal. 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  35. ^ "Gong cha enters the Portuguese market". Global Franchise. 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  36. ^ Ltd, Waltons Publications. "Gong cha lands on the Isle of Ireland: Belfast welcomes the world's fastest-growing bubble tea sensation | Food & Drink Network UK". foodanddrinknetwork.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2025-04-25. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  37. ^ Hall, Nick (2018-09-10). "Gong Cha Tea goes national". Franchise Business. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
  38. ^ Lardies, Gabi (2024-12-20). "'Just like the pie': Bubble tea is here to stay". The Spinoff. Retrieved 2025-10-04.
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