Bubble CiTea

About Bubble CiTea

Bubble CiTea is a UK bubble tea brand founded in 2012 by Suneet Sachdeva, inspired by his travels across Asia and Australia. Opening its first store in Guildford in 2013, the business expanded across UK shopping centres and retail destinations, passing 50 stores in 2023. Its offer combines bubble tea with self-service kiosks, a loyalty app and nationwide click-and-collect. Franchise expansion began in 2026, with partners secured for new locations and an existing store transfer. Bubble CiTea is now targeting high-footfall high streets, retail parks and leisure destinations alongside shopping centres. The brand aims to build a UK network of more than 300 stores through single-unit and multi-unit franchise partnerships, seeking experienced operators focused on customer service, team management and long-term growth.

Why franchise with Bubble CiTea

• ✓Established UK bubble tea brand with over a decade of trading and a proven record of expansion.
• ✓Nationwide growth plans target more than 300 locations, offering single and multi-unit opportunities.
• ✓Flexible kiosk and store formats, with typical footprints of approximately 12 sqm and 30 sqm.
• ✓Comprehensive initial training, ongoing mentoring and operational support for franchise partners.
• ✓Strong digital reach, with 1.8 million reported TikTok followers, an app and click-and-collect.
• ✓Established infrastructure, central marketing and banking relationships to support franchise growth.

Investment breakdown

Minimum investment	£85,000
Maximum investment	£160,000
Total investment (typical site)	£120,000 to £160,000
Franchise fee	£15,000
Management service fee	5%
Marketing contribution	2%, plus a minimum £5,000 initial local marketing investment
Agreement term	5 years, renewable for 5 more years at no extra cost, subject to approval

What's expected of a franchisee

Property requirements

Bubble CiTea seeks high-footfall sites in shopping centres, retail parks, leisure destinations and prominent high streets. Typical kiosks occupy around 12 sqm, while stores require approximately 30 sqm. Each location undergoes a site survey, design assessment and costed fit-out, considering footfall, space, seating and refurbishment needs. The brand offers turnkey store design, equipment and setup, with equipment leasing potentially available to reduce upfront costs.

Training and support

Bubble CiTea provides a two-week induction covering operations, customer service, food safety, staffing, employment law, purchasing and marketing. Franchisees receive access to the brand’s operations manual, intellectual property and agreed territory rights. Ongoing support includes central marketing, digital content, an online support forum, business development and onsite mentoring. At least two days of onsite operational assistance follow each store opening.

Operational requirements

Bubble CiTea franchisees must manage daily operations, recruit and train staff, maintain food safety and hygiene, oversee stock and supplier orders, and deliver excellent customer service. Operators must uphold brand standards, comply with employment and business laws, and carry out local marketing. High-footfall locations are essential, as most sales come from in-store customers. Multi-unit partners need the financial resources, management skills and infrastructure to operate several sites.

Experience required

Bubble CiTea seeks commercially experienced franchisees with proven business success, strong leadership and the ability to build effective teams. Experience in food and beverage, hospitality or retail is beneficial but not essential. Applicants need sound operational management skills, commercial awareness, a customer-focused approach and sufficient funding. Both single-unit operators and multi-unit developers are welcome, provided they can present a strong business plan.