Gong Cha Global Limited
IndustryFood and beverage
Founded2006 (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]

Gong Cha expanded to Hong Kong in 2009,[4] and by 2012 had further expanded internationally to Macau, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia and China. In 2023 the brand also arrived in Panama, Belgium and Portugal.[5]

Name

The name is a combination of the Chinese characters "貢", meaning contribution or tribute, and "茶", referring to tea. Together meaning "Tribute tea".[6]

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. [7]

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,[8] the number of stores has decreased to 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."[9]

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.[10]

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.

See also

References

  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. ↑ "台灣珍奶國際化！貢茶憑什麼8年成長6倍、從左營小商號變身外資眼中金雞？". Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "New Gong Cha CEO Targets Global Expansion for Bubble Tea Brand". Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "Gongcha Daily Tea Place". sampartners. January 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "香港的營業據點 (Operating locations in Hong Kong)". Gong Cha. Archived from the original on 2014-10-16.
  9. ↑ "Drinks and Snacks".
  10. ↑ ""맛 빼고는 다 바꿔" 공차코리아 대수술, 본사까지 인수…글로벌 프랜차이즈 주인으로". Hankyung. 2016-11-29.
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