The Alley

About The Alley

Founded in 2013, global Taiwanese bubble tea brand The Alley has more than 450 stores globally and is looking to expand outside Central London. Since launching here in 2019, it has opened six sites across the capital, including its first two pilot UK franchise stores, in Westfield Stratford and Westfield White City, which are both owned by a multi-brand franchise investor. In June 2024, the company said it is set to open its first regional site, in Manchester. Franchise consultant Krishma Vaghela said. “We're looking for more multi-unit operators with experience in food and beverage and first-time ambitious entrepreneurs, regardless of whether they have franchise experience or not, to grow The Alley in high footfall areas through high street stores, and kiosk concepts in shopping centres or travel hubs. As the bubble tea market continues to experience strong demand and rising popularity, it has yet to peak in the UK, sitting alongside the coffee market as an addictive beverage. The Alley has a lot more opportunity for scalability than its rivals, and we’ve already had interest. We want to take it outside of Central London, UK-wide but England first. Although it’s a premium drinks offer, we’re looking at university towns like Brighton, Oxford, Cambridge, Leeds, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham, and we hope to open the first new franchise store next year. We see big opportunities in travel hubs and brand partnerships, and we see takeaway being the highest percentage of revenue.” The Alley also offers food and branded merchandise and is fully halal certified. In October 2024, Ali Ikram, a former franchisee with fellow bubble tea brand Bubbleology and gaming business CeX, who is also a property developer, took on the brand’s UK master franchise. “It is an honour to announce that I’m starting a new position as master franchisor at The Alley UK,” he said. “The Alley is, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful bubble tea brands in the world, from the home of bubble tea - Taiwan. I am a bubble tea aficionado and have been drinking bubble tea for more than a decade now and was first a customer of the brand, and never envisaged being the master franchisor for the UK region one day.”

Why franchise with The Alley

• ✓The Alley is looking for single and multi-unit partners, for whom the start-up cost will be £113,000. The Alley franchise partners should have sufficient liquid capital to open their first store, although finance to fund multi-operations can be obtained by its third-party supplier. 50-70% of total investment can be financed, but the percentage available will be dependent on the applicant. The kiosk model is for high footfall locations such as shopping centres and travel hubs, with size Requirements: 200- 400 square feet and investment ranging from £113,000 to £155,000 (depending on location and if looking at single or multi units). The bricks and mortar model is for high footfall locations such as tourist and residental high streets. Size requirements are 400 to 1,000 square feet and investment ranges from £127,000 to £178,000 (depending on location and if looking at single or multi units). Ahead of store opening, key personnel from the franchisee team will spend three to five weeks at the flagship store in London to participate in The Alley’s comprehensive training programme. Tests will need to be taken and passed before successful completion of the programme. The Alley’s team of specialists will be present for a period of a few weeks to a month when a franchisee opens their store, overseeing and assisting the team with the day-to-day operations. This will include site opening and closing, bar counter and kitchen operations, management of purchasing raw materials, management of EPOS and digital systems and ordering kiosks, cost control and customer service. The Alley will also provide ongoing support and training to the franchisee and their team post launch. The business said: “Quality is our guarantee. From the process of choosing the type of tea leaves, hand-picking and roasting with other ingredients, each cup of tea has its own determined aroma and taste. The flavour may be short-lived, the memory everlasting. The Alley does not use artificial syrup, we are committed to making our own sugar cane syrup by picking all natural, high quality sugar cane. The boiling process in house creates the most original flavour. The sweetness is delicate but never overpowering.”