Gong cha opens first UK dark kitchen

The new format in London is as part of plans to expand to more than 21 stores in the UK this year

Gong cha, one of the world’s fastest-growing global tea brands, has announced the launch of its first dark kitchen in the UK in Kingsbury, London.

Founded in Taiwan in 1996, Gong cha is known for its consistently high-quality, freshly brewed drinks made with premium ingredients. It first expanded overseas in 2009 and has grown significantly to operate more than 1,900 stores in 22 countries. The launch of Gong cha’s first dark kitchen in the UK marks the opening of the brand’s 12th store across the country.

The new virtual store in Kingsbury, launched in partnership with Foodstars UK, available to customers across all major delivery platforms, will bolster Gong cha’s existing footprint in the UK, while introducing more consumers to the joys of bubble tea. It also offers an opportunity for Gong cha to test a new, highly scalable format as it accelerates growth.

After relocating its global headquarters to London in 2022, Gong cha is executing an ambitious European expansion strategy, with recent launches in Belgium and Portugal. It has a global vision to, on average, open a new store every day in 2023 as consumer demand for bubble tea increases. This will see the brand launch 10 new stores in the UK over the coming months.

Paul Reynish, global CEO of Gong cha, said: “We’re pleased to launch our first UK dark kitchen. This offers an opportunity for us to test a new concept, enhance our presence in London – offering our high-quality bubble tea to consumers in an area that we do not currently serve – and raise awareness of the Gong cha brand. This is also an important milestone in our plans to scale up in the UK – a strategically important market for Gong cha as we execute our European expansion plans.”