Global bubble tea franchise brand Gong cha has signed its largest direct franchising agreement to date in the U.S., unveiling a 50-unit exclusive area development deal in Texas with experienced multi-unit operator Bakers Acres & Cattle Company (BACC). The agreement marks another major milestone in the brand’s accelerated North American expansion strategy following its acquisition of 170 U.S. stores from its former master franchisee earlier this year.
Under the agreement, Houston-based BACC will develop and operate 50 Gong cha locations across the state’s four largest metropolitan markets: Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, over the next seven years.
The company already has extensive franchise experience through its operation of around a dozen Nothing Bundt Cakes outlets, making it one of Gong cha’s largest multi-unit development partners in the U.S.
The Texas deal is the largest direct franchise agreement in Gong cha’s history and follows the company’s strategic move in March to acquire the master franchise rights to 170 U.S. locations across 13 states, including Texas. By bringing those markets under direct control, Gong cha said it is better positioned to accelerate franchise development, strengthen operational support and drive long-term growth across the country.
“As Gong cha continues expanding across the U.S., we’re seeing strong interest from multi-unit operators looking to grow with the global leader,” said Geoff Henry, President of Gong cha Americas. “Franchisees are looking for concepts with operational simplicity, strong consumer demand and the ability to scale efficiently at relatively low cost. BACC’s track record, operational expertise and commitment to excellence make them an ideal partner as we continue building our presence in one of the country’s most dynamic franchise markets.”
BACC said Gong cha’s proven business model and consumer appeal made it an attractive investment. “We’re excited to partner with Gong cha to bring the brand to more communities across Texas,” the company said, noting that Gong cha combines strong brand recognition with an efficient operating model capable of supporting large-scale development.
The agreement will almost double Gong cha’s footprint in Texas, where the brand currently operates about 35 locations. Nationally, the company has more than 240 stores across 23 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Founded in Taiwan in 2006, Gong cha has grown into one of the world’s largest bubble tea brands, operating nearly 2,200 stores across 33 international markets. The company has been aggressively expanding throughout the Americas and is targeting more than 500 stores across the region by 2028.
The expansion also builds on Gong cha’s broader franchise growth strategy, supported by its recently introduced Gong cha 2.0 platform, which includes updated store designs, enhanced digital ordering capabilities, workflow automation and flexible store formats designed to improve operational efficiency and support multi-unit franchise operators.
Texas continues to rank among the most active U.S. markets for franchise development, driven by strong population growth and favourable business conditions. For Gong cha, the 50-store commitment represents one of its largest single-market investments in North America and reinforces the company’s ambition to become the leading global bubble tea franchise across the U.S.
