Bubble tea chain Gong cha has assumed control of 170 stores in the US after purchasing the rights from a master franchisee.

The move brings a large portion of its American network directly under the brand, in line with its plans to expand its presence and support longer-term growth in the market.

The acquisition covers 13 states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Texas.

Gong cha Americas president Geoff Henry said: “As we continue to grow toward our goal of 1,000 US locations, bringing this territory in-house allows us to further sharpen our development strategy and strengthen support for our franchise partners.

“By engaging larger multi-unit developers, we can strengthen our national supply chain network, better manage costs for franchisees and continue improving the digital tools that power both our operations and the customer experience.”

The company said it has built up its operational platform in the Americas over the past three years, adding internal teams and systems aimed at making the franchise model easier to run.

It has also launched “Gong cha 2.0”, described as a broad update to digital tools, operating processes and store formats.

A central element of this programme is the Super Wu system, named after founder Wu Zhenhua, designed to simplify drink production and allow more options for customising and personalising orders.

Gong cha currently operates more than 240 outlets across 23 states in the US.

In November 2025, the company opened its maiden store at Atlantis Paradise Island, a casino resort in the Bahamas.