Gong Cha recruits new manager to oversee European growth
Image: Gong Cha
Bubble tea brand Gong Cha has appointed Justus Haller as its new general manager, growth markets. He will be responsible for Gong Cha’s operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well as Asia-Pacific (APAC).
As part of his role, Haller will work closely with Gong Cha Global’s new UK franchisee, Jinziex, following its agreement to open at least 225 new sites in the UK. Gong Cha currently operates 13 UK stores, with Jinziex’s first franchised locations expected to open imminently in Sidcup, Gravesend, Romford and Hornchurch.
Haller brings strong expertise in hospitality, finance and franchising to Gong Gha, following 10 years’ experience working for major brands across Europe. He joins the group from Burger King Deutschland where he spent more than six years, most recently serving as its chief financial officer. During his tenure, Haller led several franchisee acquisitions, renegotiated the master franchise agreement, and was part of the management team that sold Burger King Deutschland to a private equity investor.
Prior to this, he spent more than three years at Restaurant Brands International in Switzerland, where he served most recently as senior manager, area franchise lead.
Building on Gong Cha’s existing footprint of more than 2,100 stores, Haller will also explore opportunities to add new master franchisees in markets with high growth potential across EMEA and APAC. Additionally, he will work alongside existing master franchisees to unlock sustainable growth opportunities and scale up their operations.
Paul Reynish, global CEO of Gong Cha, commented: “As we work towards our ambitious goal of scaling to 10,000 sites by 2032, Justus’ experience in franchisee operations, finance, and management will be crucial for shaping the next phase of our development in EMEA and APAC. I look forward to seeing the innovative ideas and drive he’ll bring to our EMEA and APAC expansion.”
Haller added: “I’m incredibly excited to join Gong Cha, with its high-quality, whole tea from exclusive suppliers stands head and shoulders above the rest. I can’t wait to start working with Paul and the team to drive the next phase of Gong Cha’s global growth and cement it as the market leading bubble tea brand across more of its markets.”
