Malaysian bubble-tea brand Tealive has launched the first of 500 stores planned for China. Located inside SML Center in Shanghai’s Huangpu district, the store attracted long queues on the opening day. “With China being the world’s largest tea market and the fourth overseas market for Tealive, we decided to create a specific menu for China to showcase Southeast Asian ingredients including durian, cempedak, gula melaka, Bentong ginger and Sabah-origin tea,” said Tealive’s parent company Loob CEO Bryan Loo.
“More outlets will be opened in Shanghai and we plan to have 20 outlets in China by June next year,” he added.
Loob had entered into a joint venture with two Chinese companies, Zhejiang Boduo International Trade and Shanghai Panfei International Trade to open 500 stores in China within three years.
After the dispute with Chatime, Tealive has expanded to overseas markets. It entered Vietnam last October, and now has six stores in the country, with two more planned by the end of this year.
The brand also expanded into Australia in July, with its first store opening in Melbourne.
In India, Loob has appointed a master franchisee with the target of opening 200 outlets within five years.