Latest news from Bubble CiTea

Bubble CiTea’s first franchise partners have exceeded their projected turnover by an impressive 40% in May, following the successful launch of their store at Xscape Castleford, Yorkshire.

The strong performance has prompted franchisees Arun and Kumar to begin exploring opportunities for a second location as they pursue their ambition of building a multi-site operation.

The pair, who come from IT backgrounds, were initially attracted to Bubble CiTea as loyal customers before recognising the commercial potential of the brand.

“We were specifically looking for a scalable business with proven systems, strong brand recognition and growth potential. Bubble tea in the UK is still developing, and we saw a clear opportunity to establish ourselves early and benefit from that growth over time.”

They also praised the level of support provided throughout the launch process.

“One of the key factors in our decision was the level of support from the franchise team. Krishma and Polly have been involved with us from the very beginning, supporting us across recruitment, store design, contractors, marketing and IT infrastructure. Having that level of structured guidance reduced a lot of the initial risk and helped us make informed decisions at every stage.”

Krishma Vaghela, Franchise Development Lead at Bubble CiTea, said:

“We are delighted with the exceptional start to our franchise programme. The success achieved by Arun and Kumar demonstrates the strength of the Bubble CiTea brand, the appeal of our offering and the quality of support available to franchise partners. We are particularly pleased that they are already looking towards opening a second location.”

“With two further franchise locations set to launch this month, additional sites available and discussions ongoing with prospective franchisees, we are excited to embark on the second phase of our franchise recruitment campaign.”

As a British Franchise Association (BFA) accredited franchise, Bubble CiTea is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical franchising while providing franchise partners with a proven business model and comprehensive operational support.

For entrepreneurs seeking a scalable opportunity within one of the UK’s fastest-growing beverage sectors, Bubble CiTea continues to offer exciting growth potential.

Bubble tea brand Bubble CiTea is continuing to build momentum through a series of high-profile brand collaborations that are helping to drive customer engagement, increase brand visibility and create additional value for franchise partners across its growing UK network.

Over the past 18 months, the business has partnered with some of the world’s most recognisable consumer brands, including Disney, Miffy & Friends, Mr Men Little Miss, KitKat and Swizzels. These collaborations have delivered exclusive drinks, limited-edition merchandise, themed in-store activations and promotional campaigns designed to capture consumer attention and encourage repeat visits.

The partnerships form part of Bubble CiTea’s wider strategy to deliver memorable customer experiences while maintaining a strong pipeline of innovative products and marketing initiatives across its stores.

As competition within the food and beverage sector continues to intensify, Bubble CiTea’s ability to secure and execute high-profile collaborations provides an important point of differentiation for both the brand and its franchise partners.

The campaigns have helped expand the brand’s appeal across multiple customer demographics, from families and younger consumers to collectors and pop culture enthusiasts. They have also created opportunities for local stores to engage their communities through exclusive launches and promotional activity.

For franchise partners, the benefits extend beyond increased customer traffic. National marketing support, professionally designed point-of-sale materials, social media content and coordinated product launches enable franchisees to leverage the strength of globally recognised brands without the cost and complexity of developing campaigns independently.

The collaborations also support Bubble CiTea’s commitment to innovation, ensuring stores regularly introduce new products and experiences that keep customers engaged and provide compelling reasons to return.

Krishma Vaghela, BFA-accredited F&B Franchise Consultant leading franchise development for Bubble CiTea, said:

“Bubble CiTea’s collaborations have become a significant part of the brand’s customer proposition. Partnerships with globally recognised names such as Disney, Miffy & Friends, Mr Men Little Miss, KitKat and Swizzels help create campaigns that generate excitement, drive social media engagement and encourage repeat visits.”

“From a franchise development perspective, these partnerships create genuine value for franchisees. They benefit from professionally developed marketing campaigns, exclusive product launches and the strength of established consumer brands, all of which help drive footfall and sales throughout the year.”

Having recently launched its franchise programme and signed its first franchise partners, Bubble CiTea continues to expand across the UK, with new franchisee locations scheduled to open throughout the summer.

“When prospective franchisees evaluate an opportunity, they want confidence that the brand will continue to innovate, invest in marketing and attract customers,” added Krishma.

“Bubble CiTea’s track record of successful brand collaborations demonstrates exactly that. These partnerships strengthen consumer awareness, support customer acquisition and create long-term value for franchise partners as the network continues to grow.”

As Bubble CiTea progresses its expansion plans, further collaborations and limited-edition campaigns are expected to support customer engagement and drive growth across both company-owned and franchised locations.

Bubble CiTea, one of the UK’s fastest-growing bubble tea brands, has signed its first franchisee, with a site set to open at Xscape, Castleford in Yorkshire.

The signing marks a key milestone in the brand’s franchise rollout strategy. In addition to the Castleford opening, two further franchisees have been secured, with their respective businesses expected to begin trading from June.

The franchise partner highlighted brand strength, category growth, and operational support as central to their investment decision.

“We were already familiar with Bubble CiTea as customers and had consistently positive experiences, which gave us immediate confidence in the product and its customer appeal. As we explored the franchise model further, it became clear this was not only a strong brand but also a compelling business opportunity within a fast-growing segment.”

“From a commercial perspective, we were looking for a scalable business with proven systems and strong brand recognition. Bubble tea in the UK is still developing, and we saw a clear opportunity to enter early, establish ourselves in the market, and benefit from that growth over time.”

“The level of support from the franchise team has been a key factor. From recruitment and store setup to marketing and operational infrastructure, the structured guidance has enabled us to launch efficiently and focus on building the business.”

The franchisee also confirmed ambitions to expand further, with a focus on high-footfall locations and building a multi-site operation as the brand grows.

A spokesperson for Bubble CiTea, Pollyanna Smalley, Franchise Director, said:

“The signing of our first franchisee is a significant milestone for the business and an important step in scaling our brand through franchising. The early traction we’ve seen, including additional franchise agreements already secured, demonstrates strong confidence in both our model and the category.”

“We are committed to supporting our partners and are actively looking to expand into high-quality retail and leisure destinations across the UK.”

Bubble CiTea is seeking commercially driven partners with strong professional or business ownership experience, who can demonstrate the capability and mindset required to scale a multi-site operation.