Gong Cha Explained

Gong Cha Global Limited
Industry:Food and beverage
Predecessors:-->
Successors:-->
Founded: in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Founders:-->
Hq Location City:London
Hq Location Country:United Kingdom
Area Served:Worldwide
Key People:Wu Zhenhua (Chinese: 吳振華) (Founder)
Martin Edward Berry (CEO)
Owners:-->
Parent:Gong Cha Korea (70%)
Gong Cha Global (30%)

Gong Cha (Chinese: t={{linktext|貢|茶) is a tea drink franchise founded in 2006 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.[1] [2] [3]

Name

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

History

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, 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

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

Asia

Africa and the Middle East

North America

South America

Europe

Oceania

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Our Story: The Highest Quality . gong-cha. . 16 July 2021 . 24 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230224085247/https://www.gong-cha.com/web/story . dead .
  2. Web site: About Gong Cha . gongchausa. . 16 July 2021 . 21 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220121205413/https://www.gongchausa.com/about-us . dead .
  3. Web site: Gong-Cha: Our Tea Story . gong-cha.ca . 16 July 2021 .
  4. Web site: January 2016. Gongcha Daily Tea Place. 21 June 2021. sampartners. 24 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202347/http://sampartners.co.kr/en/portfolio-item/gongcha/?ckattempt=1. dead.
  5. News: 2009-06-08 . 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') . . 12 December 2012.
  6. Web site: 香港的營業據點 (Operating locations in Hong Kong) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141016013126/http://www.gong-cha.com/location.php?cat_id=16 . 2014-10-16 . Gong Cha.
  7. Web site: Drinks and Snacks.
  8. News: "맛 빼고는 다 바꿔" 공차코리아 대수술, 본사까지 인수…글로벌 프랜차이즈 주인으로 . . 2016-11-29 . 2019-01-23 . 2019-01-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190124041619/http://news.hankyung.com/article/2016112957571 . dead .
  9. Web site: Koh . Wan Ting . Bubble tea brand Gong Cha shuts all outlets in Singapore: Report . CNA . 2 October 2025 . 2 October 2025.
  10. Web site: Dong . Irene . 2025-10-03 . 'We'll be back': Gong Cha exits Singapore, but promises return . 2025-10-04 . Inside Retail Asia . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2025-04-07 . International expansion sees Gong cha surpass $600m global sales . 2025-10-04 . World Coffee Portal . en.
  12. Web site: 14 March 2024 . Gong Cha: A Global Success Brewing from Taiwan . The Franchise Talk.
  13. News: 2025-10-02 . Gong Cha ceases operations in S’pore, shuts all stores islandwide . 2025-10-04 . The Straits Times . en . 0585-3923.
  14. Web site: 2025-07-01 . Gong Cha Malaysia brews brand love with pop culture and plushies . 2025-10-04 . Marketing-Interactive . en.
  15. Web site: 2015-10-06 . Gong Cha Korea opens its first franchise in Tokyo . 2025-10-04 . koreajoongangdaily.joins.com . en.
  16. Web site: Alwines . Aaron . 2018-03-14 . How this IT programmer bounced back after a failed startup to build an F&B giant . 2025-10-04 . Biz Brunei . en-GB.
  17. Web site: Cambodia . B2B . 2022-02-08 . Gong Cha Shuts Down Operations in the Kingdom . 2025-10-04 . b2b-cambodia.com . en.
  18. Web site: Top 4 big food brands coming to Cambodia in 2021! . 2025-10-04 . foodbuzz.site.
  19. Web site: Gong Cha launches new brand identity . 2025-10-04 . vietnamnews.vn . en.
  20. Web site: Growth Partnership Proposal . Buka Outlet.
  21. Web site: 2024-02-12 . Gong cha to make North Africa debut with Morocco launch . 2025-10-04 . World Coffee Portal . en.
  22. Web site: 2024-07-09 . Gong cha makes Middle East debut with Riyadh store . 2025-10-04 . World Coffee Portal . en.
  23. Web site: 2024-09-02 . Bubble tea chain Gong cha opens first store in Mauritius . 2025-10-04 . World Coffee Portal . en.
  24. Web site: Gong cha Climbs Over 100 Spots in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Highly Competitive Franchise 500 ® List, Ranking #181 . Business Wire.
  25. Web site: Magbanua . Djan . 2025-08-04 . Gong cha adds dessert to hook Saudi customers QSR Media Asia . 2025-10-04 . qsrmedia.asia . en.
  26. Web site: 2025-04-07 . International expansion sees Gong cha surpass $600m global sales . 2025-10-04 . World Coffee Portal . en.
  27. Web site: Buchanan . Susy . 2020-10-22 . Gong Cha plans 100 outlets for its bubble tea by 2024 . 2025-10-04 . Mexico News Daily . en-US.
  28. Web site: Dong . Irene . 2023-12-13 . Gong Cha to expand in the US and Central America . 2025-10-04 . Inside Retail Asia . en-US.
  29. Web site: 2024-06-28 . Gong cha signs 30-store franchise agreement in Puerto Rico . 2025-10-04 . World Coffee Portal . en.
  30. Web site: 2025-10-02 . Gong cha to make Caribbean debut with luxury resort outlet . 2025-10-04 . World Coffee Portal . en.
  31. Web site: 2025-06-17 . Gong cha to launch in Colombia and Ecuador in 2025 . 2025-10-04 . World Coffee Portal . en.
  32. Web site: 2025-03-17 . Gong cha signs franchise deal to open 225 UK stores . 2025-10-04 . World Coffee Portal . en.
  33. Web site: 2023-02-02 . Gong cha Benelux opens two new sites in Belgium . 2025-10-04 . Global Franchise . en.
  34. Web site: 2023-06-08 . Gong cha opens first of 200 planned stores in France . 2025-10-04 . World Coffee Portal . en.
  35. Web site: 2023-01-16 . Gong cha enters the Portuguese market . 2025-10-04 . Global Franchise . en.
  36. Web site: 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 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250425161042/https://foodanddrinknetwork.co.uk/latest-news/news-appointments/gong-cha-lands-on-the-isle-of-ireland-belfast-welcomes-the-world-s-fastest-growing-bubble-tea-sensation/ . 2025-04-25 . 2025-10-04 . foodanddrinknetwork.co.uk . en . live .
  37. Web site: Hall . Nick . 2018-09-10 . Gong Cha Tea goes national . 2025-10-04 . Franchise Business . en-US.
  38. Web site: Lardies . Gabi . 2024-12-20 . ‘Just like the pie’: Bubble tea is here to stay . 2025-10-04 . The Spinoff . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Gong Cha".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2026, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.