Boba Tea Chains Target More Markets

As summer heats up, boba drinks continue to burst onto new scenes.

For chains like Starbucks and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, limited-time boba offerings are making debuts—with berry accents at the former and brown sugar flavoring at the latter. Meanwhile, other chains dedicated to the bubble tea craze are working to reach new customers.

This week, Arizona-based Boba Cucue announced its upcoming California debut, with one unit opening in Lakeland. In May, the chain announced a deal for two stores in Austin, Texas. By December, Boba Cucue says it expects to have 30 locations signed and opened.

Another chain, called Teapioca Lounge, shared this month that it has signed three new franchise deals to bring more stores to Texas, where it is based. Teapioca currently has around 30 U.S. units in various stages of development, with stores in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Oklahoma and Florida as well.

“The surge in boba tea’s momentum is remarkable, and the beverage’s enduring popularity promises to fuel further growth, which is truly exciting,” states Briana Liu, who is part of Teapioca’s franchise development team, in a press release. “These three new franchise groups are going to give us another boost within Texas, helping us get to that 50-location milestone we are reaching for by the end of next year.”