- Craved by Gen Z worldwide, Gong cha climbs five spots from No. 134 in 2025
- Global sales rise 8.8%, more than doubling the Top 400’s combined growth rate
- New deals and formats drive expansion toward 500-plus Americas stores by 2028
BOSTON, Oct. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Gong cha, the global bubble tea brand with nearly 2,200 locations across 33 international markets, has ranked No. 129 on the 2026 Franchise Times Top 400, advancing five spots from its No. 134 position in 2025. The annual ranking measures the largest franchise systems in the United States by global systemwide sales.
Gong cha’s global systemwide sales increased 8.8% in 2025, more than double the 4.3% combined sales growth recorded by brands on this year’s Top 400. Together, the ranked systems generated $784.6 billion in annual sales, an increase of $32.5 billion over the prior year.
The recognition comes as Gong cha expands its Americas presence through multi-unit franchise agreements, nontraditional formats, and investments in its Gong cha 2.0 operating model. These initiatives support the brand’s goal of exceeding 500 stores in the Americas by 2028.
“Beverage brands need to earn two kinds of loyalty: guests who keep coming back and franchisees who see a reason to keep investing,” said Geoff Henry, President of Gong cha Americas. “Sustaining both requires more than a compelling menu. It takes an operating model that can handle customization at scale, support consistent service, and adapt to different real estate opportunities. That’s where we’re concentrating our investment as we build the next phase of Gong cha’s growth.”
Broadening the Path to Expansion
Gong cha’s 2026 franchise development activity includes a 50-unit agreement in Texas with an experienced franchise operator and a three-unit agreement in Southern California. The agreements reflect the brand’s focus on working with operators who can develop multiple locations and build a sustained presence within their markets.
Expansion is also extending beyond traditional storefronts. Gong cha recently announced its first U.S. airport location at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and an expanded university presence at the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of California, Berkeley, through its Proud to Serve model.
These formats create additional opportunities to reach guests in places they already visit, while providing different pathways for bringing Gong cha into new markets and high-traffic settings.
“We see significant room to grow beyond traditional stores, and we’re going after it with a clear view of what works,” said Michael Nedelkovich Jr., Vice President of U.S. Non-Traditional Franchise Development at Gong cha. “High traffic gets our attention, but it takes more than that to build a successful location. We’re focused on partners who know their markets, formats their teams can execute, and places where Gong cha can become a regular purchase. That’s what gives us confidence to scale.”
Investing in the Operations Behind Growth
Gong cha 2.0 combines automated beverage preparation, digital ordering, and optimized store design to support greater efficiency and consistency across the franchise system. The platform is designed to help operators manage order volume and beverage customization while maintaining the quality and service guests expect.
Ordering kiosks allow guests to explore and personalize their drinks, while counter ordering remains available for those who prefer assistance. Automated beverage preparation supports the work behind the counter, giving team members more capacity to focus on welcoming guests and delivering a personal drink handoff.
These investments come as beverage concepts continue to gain ground in franchising. Within the restaurant category, Franchise Times reported that total sales for coffee and tea concepts increased 32.5% in 2025, underscoring the growing scale of beverage-focused franchise businesses.
Scaling With the Right Franchise Partners
Gong cha is seeking experienced multi-unit operators to grow across existing and emerging markets, with opportunities spanning traditional storefronts and non-traditional venues such as airports and universities. Franchisees gain access to the Gong cha 2.0 operating model and strong corporate support.
Ranked #1 in the Tea category on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® list for five consecutive years, Gong cha operates in more than 240 locations across 24 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
For more information about franchising with Gong cha, visit gongchausa.com/franchise-opportunities.
About Gong cha
Founded in Taiwan in 2006, Gong cha is the world’s premier bubble tea brand. Its commitment to quality starts with its name: “Gong cha” means to offer the best tea to the emperor from all of one’s possessions. From the most seasoned bubble tea connoisseur to a first-timer, Gong cha offers its customers the ability to customize their beverage to their exact specifications and never sacrifices flavor or technique. With its premium product, simple and scalable operational model, and strong corporate support, Gong cha is one of the fastest-growing bubble tea brands in the U.S. and internationally, with nearly 2,200 locations in 33 international markets. Since 2014, Gong cha has opened more than 240 stores across 24 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico and is on track to exceed more than 500 stores in the Americas by 2028. Gong cha was ranked #1 in the Tea category in Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious Franchise 500® list for the fifth consecutive year (2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022); ranked No. 129 on Franchise Times’ Top 400 List of the largest U.S.-based franchise systems by global systemwide sales (2026), and named to the list for six consecutive years (2021-2026); ranked No. 19 on Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers List honoring brands leading the industry (2026); awarded category winner of Top Food & Beverage Franchises in the Global Franchise Awards (2025); and named one of QSR Magazine’s 17 Best Restaurant Franchising Deals for 2023. For more, please visit gongchausofficial.com.
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