Malaysian bubble tea chain Tealive is expanding its presence in Asia with exclusive franchise arrangements entered into for India and Thailand.
Tealive, which launched successfully in the UAE last year, has signed a master franchise agreement with Indian QSR operator Devyani International Limited (DIL) to expand into India.
DIL is India’s largest Yum! Brands franchisee, running KFC and Pizza Hut locations, as well as the country’s official Costa Coffee operator. DIL operates around 2000 stores in India, Thailand, Nigeria, and Nepal under several brands.
“Partnering with a strong local operator like DIL gives us the ability to adapt and thrive in India while also extending the Tealive lifestyle to millions of new consumers,” said Loob Holding founder and CEO Bryan Loo.
Loo also stated that Tealive is planning a “significant presence” in India, beginning with outlets in major cities this year.
Tealive also intends to expand into Thailand with the local partner RD Group – the Thai KFC franchise holder.
“We’re thrilled to kick off Tealive’s expansion in Thailand, just like we did in Malaysia,” Loo wrote in his LinkedIn post.