Boutique Bubble-Tea Chain Chicha San Chen Plans 30 Stores
•February 18, 2026
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Why It Matters
The aggressive expansion signals a shift toward premium, experience‑driven bubble‑tea concepts, challenging the volume‑focused market and attracting higher‑spending customers.
Key Takeaways
- •Targeting 30 Australian stores by 2026.
- •Six NSW locations already operational.
- •Patented extraction system ensures fresh, precise brews.
- •Premium tea aims at Western coffee consumers.
- •Franchise model launched November 2025.
Pulse Analysis
Bubble tea has evolved from a niche Asian treat to a mainstream beverage across Australia, with market research estimating a CAGR of 12% through 2028. While most chains compete on speed and low‑price volume, a new tier of boutique operators is emerging, offering craft‑style tea experiences that echo the specialty‑coffee movement. Chicha San Chen, founded in Taiwan in 1998, leverages award‑winning tea leaves and a patented extraction system to deliver each cup at exact temperature and timing, positioning itself as a premium alternative to the fast‑serve model.
The brand’s Australian rollout began with a flagship store in Sydney in early 2023 and quickly expanded to six locations across the New South Wales metropolitan area. In November 2025 it opened its first franchise outlet, signalling a shift toward a scalable partnership model. By committing to 30 stores within three years, Chicha aims to capture both the existing bubble‑tea fan base and the growing segment of Western consumers who value the ritual of a carefully brewed drink, similar to a barista‑crafted coffee.
If successful, the expansion could reshape the competitive landscape, forcing larger chains to reconsider their product quality and service cadence. Investors will watch franchisee performance closely, as the high‑touch model demands skilled staff and consistent supply of premium Taiwanese leaves. Moreover, the move aligns with broader consumer trends toward experiential dining and willingness to pay a premium for authenticity, suggesting that Chicha San Chen’s boutique approach may set a new benchmark for the Australian bubble‑tea market.
Boutique bubble-tea chain Chicha San Chen plans 30 stores
Taiwanese boutique bubble tea chain Chicha San Chen has announced a strategic expansion plan to reach 30 Australian locations within the next three years.
Since entering the market in January 2023 with a Sydney flagship, the brand has established a six-store footprint across the New South Wales metropolitan area. It launched its first franchise store in November 2025.
The premium beverages business is challenging the perception of a bubble tea shop. Instead of adopting the typical high-speed convenience model, it is targeting customers who want to indulge in a slower-paced, traditional tea-drinking experience.
The brand differentiates itself through its award-winning Taiwanese tea leaves and a patented extraction system that brews each cup fresh to order with precise temperature and timing control.
Chicha San Chen’s approach aims to bridge the gap between the typical bubble tea Asian demographics and a Western customer familiar with the craft of barista coffee.
Founded in 1998, the chain has a footprint across Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the US.
- This story was originally published on Franchise Executives.
The post Boutique bubble-tea chain Chicha San Chen plans 30 stores appeared first on Inside Retail Australia.
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