Bubble tea concept Gong cha has appointed Justin Goes as its UK & Ireland development director.
Goes worked with Subway for nearly two decades and held several senior European roles including regional director Europe, where he helped grow the estate from 150 to over 5,000.
After Subway, he co-founded The Foodservice Experts, an industry consultancy specialising in strategic development and chain management within the franchise industry.
In his new role, Goes will work closely with Gong cha global CEO Paul Reynish to drive the brand forward in the UK & Ireland.
The brand operates more than 2,000 stores in 23 countries, including 13 in the UK, and aims to rapidly grow its UK estate with new multisite franchisees as part of plans targeting a global estate of 10,000 by 2032.
Paul Reynish, global CEO of Gong cha, said: “We are delighted to welcome Justin to the Gong cha team. He is a highly-skilled, highly experienced operator who has exactly what we need to significantly scale up in the UK – one of our most strategically important markets. We look forward to working with him in the years ahead.
Justin Goes, UK&I development director at Gong cha, said: “I’m pleased to join Gong cha. While still in its infancy, demand for bubble tea in the UK is growing rapidly. I believe Gong cha with its premium brand, high-quality and authentic product, and strong operational model on flexible footprints has significant potential to lead the UK’s bubble tea market for decades to come. I look forward to playing my part in its next chapter.”
