International bubble tea chain Gong Cha is about to suck up more Texas market share.
The Taiwanese company said it’s inked a 50-unit franchise agreement in Texas with Houston-based Bakers Acres & Cattle Co. — currently a Nothing Bundt Cakes franchisee — which will include new Gong Cha stores in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston. The deal is the largest direct franchising agreement in the chain’s history.
Gong Cha officials didn’t say how many new units will be in San Antonio and each of the other Texas markets slated for expansion. However, they did say the rollout will take place over the next seven years.
The Alamo City currently has five Gong Cha locations.
Founded in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in 2006, Gong Cha has charted a rapid expansion and how has 2,200 locations across 28 international markets, according to company officials.
Bubble tea, named for its inclusion of round tapioca pearls or “boba,” originated in Taiwan in the 1980s and initially gained a U.S. foothold in Asian American communities. However, the sweetened drinks — most made with black, green or oolong tea as a base — have found a wider following in recent years.
Gong Cha’s shops sell a variety of bubble teas, which customers have the option of customizing by choosing their own tea bases and toppings and varying the sweetness level.
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