Yi Fang

About Yi Fang

Yi Fang is a Taiwanese chain of bubble tea shops established in 2016 and with more than 1,000 locations across more than a dozen countries. Inkism International is the parent company. Yi Fang UK was founded in 2017, launching in London’s Chinatown and expanding to ten stores pre-covid and 25 stores by the summer of 2023. The franchise rights were bought by PKWG, led by Po-Kai Wang. It now has seven locations - three in London and one each in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Oxford and Cambridge. “We believe using fresh and authentic ingredients in our tea is the key to our success,” the company said. “Yi Fang serves traditional fruit tea and tapioca pearl bubble drinks made with only natural ingredients, including premium cane sugar and fresh fruit slices as well as dairy and soya milk. Grandma Yi-Fang invented the secret recipe behind our renowned fruit tea after turning freshly picked pineapples into a delicious homemade jam. To maintain her spirit, the same recipe is used today.”

Why franchise with Yi Fang

• ✓Minimum investment is £50,000 and total investment is up to £120,000, with a £35,000 franchise fee. The company’s profile on What Franchise said: “The franchise model is based on Yi Fang’s commitment to franchisees to support them every step of the way. The franchise fee covers the right to use the Yi Fang brand which has a proven track record globally. The business also charges a certain percentage of franchise monthly turnover which is obtained to sustain services the head office continuously provides, such as operational and administrative support as well as management services (for marketing, financial and business development support) to ensure that each franchise is a success story. Yi Fang’s centralised systems are tried and tested concepts, constantly revised and refined to provide the best service to franchisees. Yi Fang does not require prior food and beverage industry experience, however, a can-do attitude with a genuine interest in operating a bubble tea store is a must to be considered the brand’s next ambassador. Yi Fang provides support for operations and management to franchisees and free training up to four weeks for a franchisee’s designated store manager. Training takes place at the head office in London and trainees can expect to learn about every aspect of running a bubble tea shop. There is ongoing training on-site for locations outside London when required and management support for franchisees upon the agreed intervals and any questions they might have with regards to operating and managing their stores will be answered on a day-to-day basis if needed.”

Investment breakdown