So much for bidding a fond farewell to Gong Cha – it seems like the popular brand will soon be making a comeback on our shores. Fret not, those of you who desperately queued up for bubble tea on the supposed last day of Gong Cha’s operations in Singapore, when all outlets converted to homegrown brand LiHO.
According to The Straits Times, the company behind Gong Cha wants to return to our island in the next few months with a “bigger, better, upgraded format”.
Cue the shrieks of joy from hardcore Gong Cha fans. In case you have any lingering doubts, here’s a statement from Kim Soomin, a partner at Japanese private equity firm Unison Capital, which co-owns Gong Cha with founder Royal Tea Taiwan.
“We just want to make clear to our Singapore customers that we are not leaving the market and we plan to come back pretty soon.”
Reportedly, the company hasn’t specified the number of outlets it wants to open in Singapore by the end of the year, but it will be “as many as [they] can”.
That makes sense, considering the Singapore outlets of Gong Cha were bringing in about $30 million in annual revenue, making us one of the top three most obsessed Gong Cha consumers.
Unison Capital and Royal Tea Taiwan are currently in discussion with potential partners for the return of Gong Cha, so keep an eye out for a possible new look and new menu when the brand is revived in Singapore.
