The world’s premiere bubble tea brand demonstrates its strong growth trajectory in the region with entries into two new markets
Gong cha, one of the world’s most recognized and fastest-growing bubble tea brands with nearly 2,200 stores in 29 international markets, is pleased to announce its expansion into Ecuador and Colombia. In 2024, Gong cha opened its first stores in Honduras and Puerto Rico, and this latest milestone signifies its continued growth across Central America. The brand will officially launch in both markets in 2025, introducing its premium, customizable tea beverages and modern guest experience to new audiences eager for globally inspired flavors and a taste of these trending drinks.
This expansion reflects Gong cha’s commitment to strong local partnerships, and its ability to adapt to the diverse retail environments of Latin America. In Colombia, the brand is entering the market through a franchise agreement with Té Colombia S.A.S, led by Mateo and Felipe Lisocki. The Lisocki brothers bring extensive experience in the food & beverage sector and currently operate a portfolio of approximately 38 Subway restaurants across the country.
In Ecuador, the master franchise will be led by Francisco and Bolívar Lascano, experienced entrepreneurs with a strong background in hospitality and retail. The Lascano family also has deep experience in the hotel industry, bringing valuable insight into guest service and operations—an approach they plan to integrate into Gong cha’s store development and daily operations.
“We are proud to partner with passionate local operators who understand the unique characteristics of their markets,” said Geoff Henry, President of Gong cha Americas. “Mateo, Felipe, Francisco, and Bolívar bring strong operational vision and entrepreneurial energy that align with Gong cha’s global standards and values.”
A key strength of Gong cha’s market entry strategy is its flexible store format, which allows franchisees to open locations across a variety of retail settings. From inline stores, to small-footprint settings, to larger flagships, the brand adapts to each market’s real estate landscape and customer flow to support accessibility and long-term performance. Additionally, Gong cha’s self-ordering kiosks can be implemented in any store format to help operators enhance the customer experience and optimize service.
Gong cha’s menu features a wide range of customizable beverages, including milk teas, fruit teas, smoothies, and its signature tapioca pearls—all made with premium ingredients sourced from Taiwan, and prepared to order. A hallmark of the Gong cha experience is its rich, savory-sweet milk foam, made with whipped milk, cream, and a hint of salted Taiwanese butter. Gong cha was the first to introduce milk foam to bubble tea—a popular topping that has since become a global trend. Teas are brewed fresh in-store throughout the day using whole tea leaves sourced from the finest estates in Asia, and guests can personalize their order with more than 600 drink combinations, selecting their preferred tea base, toppings, sweetness, and ice levels.
With growing demand for high quality tea-based beverages in Latin America, Gong cha’s entry into Ecuador and Colombia offers consumers a new opportunity to enjoy premium handcrafted drinks in a modern, brand-led environment.
Source: Gong Cha US
