Gong Cha Climbs to No. 129 on the 2026 Franchise Times Top 400

Taiwanese-origin bubble tea chain Gong cha rose five spots to No. 129 on Franchise Times' 2026 Top 400 ranking of the largest U.S.-based franchise systems by global systemwide sales, up from No. 134 the year before, according to a company release dated October 2, 2026.

Gong cha's global systemwide sales grew 8.8% in 2025 — more than double the 4.3% average growth posted by brands across the entire list — with the company now operating roughly 2,200 locations across 33 international markets.

The brand is targeting more than 500 Americas locations by 2028, pursuing the goal through multi-unit franchise deals and nontraditional store formats rather than company-owned expansion, alongside its "Gong cha 2.0" operating model — a refresh built around beverage automation, digital ordering and a faster-to-build store design that the International Franchise Association's own site first detailed in January 2026.

The ranking climb adds to a string of recent list placements for the brand, which also jumped nearly 40 spots on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 ranking earlier in 2026 — concrete evidence of how far a brand that began as a single Taiwanese tea stand has scaled through franchised growth rather than direct ownership.