Latest news from Bubble CiTea

Bubble CiTea has welcomed experienced multi-brand franchise operators Sunil Joshi and his wife, Madhuri, to its growing franchise network.

The couple, who have a background in food and beverage franchising, will take over an existing Bubble CiTea corporate-operated kiosk at Festival Place in Basingstoke in the coming weeks.

The existing kiosk will be converted to Bubble CiTea’s new store design, creating a fresh and modern environment for customers while reflecting the continued development of the brand.

The new franchise partnership follows a successful recruitment process supported by external franchise consultant Krishma Vaghela, who worked closely with Sunil and Madhuri from the initial discussions through to signing the franchise agreement.

Finding the right franchise partner

For franchisors, successful franchise recruitment is about more than simply identifying an individual with the required investment. Finding the right profile for the brand is an important part of building a strong and sustainable franchise network. Sunil and Madhuri’s existing franchise experience, background in food and beverage franchising and approach to business made them a strong fit for Bubble CiTea.

Their plans also extend beyond their first location. The couple are looking to develop a multi-site Bubble CiTea operation, with future locations forming part of their longer-term growth strategy. Vaghela will continue to support the couple as they develop their Bubble CiTea portfolio, including helping to identify future locations that are right for both the brand and their business.

Continued UK expansion

The partnership comes as Bubble CiTea continues to expand its presence across the UK through both its corporate and franchise network.

The brand is BFA Accredited, demonstrating its commitment to recognised standards within the UK franchise sector and providing prospective franchise partners with additional reassurance when considering a Bubble CiTea franchise opportunity.

The Basingstoke location will mark the next stage of Bubble CiTea’s development in the South of England, with the new store design providing an updated customer experience and reflecting the continued evolution of the brand.

For Sunil and Madhuri, the Festival Place location represents the first step in their plans with Bubble CiTea, with further locations expected to follow as they build their portfolio.

Bubble CiTea’s latest franchisee, experienced business owner Aung, has officially taken over the brand’s established store at Highcross Shopping Centre in Leicester.

The successful takeover, completed last month, marks an exciting new chapter for Aung, who brings several years of hands-on franchising experience to the business. With a strong background in business ownership and a clear ambition to grow, Aung is now looking ahead to becoming a multi-store operator with Bubble CiTea.

Aung began his franchising journey in 2019 as a ChipsAway mobile repairer covering Barnsley. Just two years later, he expanded the operation into a car care centre, entering a period of significant business growth.

Having experienced the benefits of the franchise model first-hand, Aung knew that his next business venture would ideally be with another established franchise brand.

“My background in franchising began in 2019 as a ChipsAway mobile repairer covering Barnsley. In 2021, I expanded the business into a car care centre, which marked a period of significant growth,” said Aung.

“I have always been inspired to explore franchising because it is often easier than starting a business from scratch, especially when the brand is well-known and established with an existing customer base.”

When looking for his next opportunity, Aung was attracted to Bubble CiTea not only by the strength and recognition of the brand, but by the relationship he developed with its franchise team.

“I chose Bubble CiTea over other opportunities because the team is very approachable and supportive. I was able to share my long-term goals with them, and they have been helpful in every way. Furthermore, Bubble CiTea is a highly recognised brand that people know and trust.”

Taking over an existing corporate location also gave Aung the opportunity to step into an established Bubble CiTea store while benefiting from the training, systems and ongoing support provided by the brand.

He describes the transition into the business as remarkably straightforward.

“The onboarding process has been a breeze. The head office and franchise team kept me posted at every step, providing excellent guidance and advice.

“The training and ongoing support have been faultless; Cynthia has been incredibly quick to respond, and the training with Georgina was excellent, as she is clearly an expert in the field.”

The support extended beyond operational training. Bubble CiTea’s marketing team worked directly with Highcross Shopping Centre to coordinate social media activity and marketing strategy around Aung taking over the location, while ensuring he remained involved in the process.

For prospective franchisees, Aung’s story demonstrates one of the advantages of joining an established franchise system: entrepreneurs remain responsible for building and growing their own businesses, but can do so with the infrastructure, experience and resources of a recognised brand behind them.

Pollyanna Smalley, Franchise Director of Bubble CiTea said, “Having Aung join us as a franchisee is a real pleasure! With his experience as a franchisee in another business, we’re confident he’ll take the existing site from strength to strength. We’re excited to see it grow and look forward to supporting Aung as he begins his Bubble Citea journey and hopefully welcomes more sites in the future!”

And for Aung, Leicester is intended to be only the beginning.

“Looking ahead, my ambition is to become a multi-store franchisee and grow together with the entire team,” he said.

That ambition is already being supported by Bubble CiTea’s franchise team, with franchise consultant Krishma Vaghela working closely with Aung to help identify and secure a suitable second site. The process reflects the brand’s focus on building long-term relationships with franchisees and supporting successful operators who want to expand within the network.

“I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone at Bubble CiTea for allowing me to be a part of the family.”

With an experienced franchise operator now at the helm in Leicester, and plans for further growth already taking shape,  Aung’s move into Bubble CiTea represents exactly the type of long-term partnership the brand is seeking as it continues to grow its franchise network across the UK.

Bubble CiTea is partnering with Illumination and Universal Pictures to celebrate the release of the new Minions & Monsters movie with three exciting limited-edition drinks, available exclusively until August at participating Bubble CiTea stores nationwide.

Inspired by the movie, the collaboration features three brand-new flavours, exclusive limited-edition cup sleeves and an exciting purchase-to-win giveaway, offering customers the chance to win a trip to Spain.

Capturing the fun, adventure and playful spirit of the movie, each drink delivers a unique flavour experience, from refreshing fruity blends to a specially crafted banana-inspired creation for Minions fans. It’s the perfect way for movie lovers and bubble tea enthusiasts alike to enjoy a taste of the adventure this summer before the collection disappears.

Bubble CiTea has continued its growth trajectory with the signing of a third new franchisee, further strengthening the footprint of the British Franchise Association (BFA)-accredited brand, which now operates across more than 40 locations nationwide.

Later this month, the corporate-owned store at Leicester Highcross will transition to franchise ownership, marking the latest step in the brand’s ongoing expansion strategy.

The new franchise partner, Aung, is an experienced franchise operator in another sector and will become a multi-brand franchisee by adding Bubble CiTea to his portfolio. A long-standing and devoted customer of the brand, his passion for Bubble CiTea was evident from the outset and contributed to his decision to invest in the business.

Aung’s appointment reflects the increasing appeal of established, accredited franchise brands to experienced operators seeking to diversify and grow their portfolios. Such is his confidence in the Bubble CiTea proposition that he is already exploring opportunities for additional locations.

Supporting Aung throughout the recruitment process was Krishma Vaghela, BFA-accredited external franchise consultant and Franchise Development Lead for Bubble CiTea.

Commenting on the latest franchise signing, Krishma said:

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is supporting ambitious entrepreneurs as they invest in brands they genuinely believe in and helping them realise their growth ambitions. From our very first conversation, it was clear that Aung’s passion for Bubble CiTea extended far beyond that of a loyal customer. His experience as an existing franchise operator, combined with his enthusiasm for the brand, made him an excellent fit for the network.

“Bubble CiTea’s continued growth, supported by its British Franchise Association accreditation and a network of more than 40 locations, demonstrates the strength of the brand and the opportunities available to entrepreneurs seeking to build scalable businesses. I look forward to continuing to work with Aung as we explore opportunities to grow his Bubble CiTea portfolio further.”

Krishma Vaghela, a BFA-accredited external franchise consultant, has been supporting the development and growth of the Bubble CiTea network, helping entrepreneurs identify opportunities and guiding them through the franchise journey.

As Bubble CiTea continues to expand, the addition of experienced operators such as Aung reinforces the brand’s position as one of the UK’s leading bubble tea franchise opportunities.

Bubble CiTea is set to strengthen its presence in the UK with the opening of a new store at Gloucester Quays later this month, marking another milestone in the brand’s expansion journey.

The new location will be operated by Suman and Ramana, who become only the second franchise partners to join the Bubble CiTea network. Their appointment represents an important step in the continued growth of the brand, which is accredited by the British Franchise Association (BFA), reflecting its commitment to ethical franchising and best practice.

What makes the partnership particularly noteworthy is that Suman and Ramana were loyal Bubble CiTea customers long before embarking on their franchise journey. Having developed a strong affinity with the brand and its products, they decided to transform their passion into a business opportunity.

With ambitions extending beyond their first location, the pair are already looking ahead to establishing additional Bubble CiTea stores across the South West, underlining their long-term commitment to the brand.

Throughout the recruitment and onboarding process, Suman and Ramana were supported by Bubble CiTea’s Franchise Development Lead, Krishma Vaghela, an external BFA Accredited Franchise Consultant and founder of Franchise Futures. Her role has included guiding prospective franchisees through the recruitment process and supporting the brand’s strategic franchise expansion.

Commenting on the new opening, Krishma Vaghela said:

“Suman and Ramana’s journey is a fantastic example of how genuine brand affinity can evolve into successful business ownership. Having experienced Bubble CiTea as customers themselves, they have developed a real passion for the brand and its values. It has been a privilege to support them throughout their journey to franchise ownership, and I look forward to seeing them establish a successful business at Gloucester Quays and expand further across the South West.”

Bubble CiTea’s BFA accreditation provides franchise partners with the reassurance of joining a franchise system that adheres to recognised industry standards and operates in accordance with ethical franchising principles.

The opening of the Gloucester Quays store represents another significant milestone for Bubble CiTea as it continues to build its franchise network and bring its popular bubble tea offering to customers across the UK.

The new store is scheduled to open later this month.