Kenton Chan, Co-Founder and Group CEO of Kevito Group, shared exciting updates about the company’s expansion plans for its Chatime Canada brand during a recent interview. As a leading player in Canada’s bubble tea market, Kevito Group currently manages 105 locations across the country, with 18 new outlets opened in 2024 alone.
“Last year, we were mainly focused on Ontario and British Columbia,” said Chan. “A few in Alberta, but the main focus has been BC and Ontario.”
Looking ahead, the company plans to open a similar number of stores in 2025, with Alberta playing a more prominent role in their expansion strategy. “We’re placing a renewed focus on Alberta, along with continued focus on Ontario and British Columbia,” Chan explained.
One of the most notable developments for the company is its growing partnership with Walmart. “We do have some exciting new partnerships with Walmart, actually,” Chan said. “We’ll be opening a few locations within their retail hubs across the country, starting with Edmonton. So far, we’re talking to them about eight to 10 locations, but they’ve told us that more will come throughout the year.”
Two have opened in Ontario. “We’re extremely happy with the performance so far. It seems to be a wonderful partnership.”
Chan highlighted Walmart’s strong customer base and foot traffic as key reasons for the collaboration. “We’ve found that a lot of younger professionals, families, and students going to Walmart align perfectly with our customer base,” he added.
The bubble tea industry in Canada has seen a surge in popularity, with a broader demographic now enjoying the drinks. “Bubble tea customers have expanded in terms of demographics,” Chan noted. “It’s no longer just younger Gen Zs. It’s now younger families, millennials, and even some unexpected fans who’ve become our biggest bubble tea enthusiasts.”
Looking toward the future, Kevito Group has set ambitious goals for growth. “Long term, we’re hoping to hit 250 locations in the next five years,” Chan revealed. “We definitely think it’s achievable, especially with the growth of the bubble tea industry.”
As Kevito Group continues to grow, the company is exploring new types of locations that were previously considered unsuitable. “The typical locations we looked at before were very focused on Asian-dominated areas or near universities and high schools,” Chan said. “But now, with the expansion of our customer base, we’re able to consider locations we never would have thought of five years ago.”
With strong partnerships and a loyal customer base, Kevito Group is well-positioned to lead the bubble tea market in Canada. “We’ve been lucky to be one of the first international brands to expand across Canada,” Chan said. “It’s wonderful to see customers bring their friends and share the drinks they’ve discovered along their Chatime journey.”
Chatime Canada, the largest and fastest growing bubble tea franchise, is celebrating the 11th annual Lunar New Year with some unique events.
Until February 9, Chatime is inviting customers to join the festivities with a unique opportunity to win prizes while enjoying their favourite bubble teas. With the purchase of two large Chatime drinks, customers will receive a special Purple Pocket granting instant access to prizes and automatic entry into grand-prize raffles for rewards like an all inclusive trip to Cancun, a year of free Chatime, exclusive Lunar New Year merchandise and more.
“Lunar New Year is a deeply meaningful occasion, embodying the principles of community, prosperity, and joy – values that are fundamental to our mission and vision as a brand,” said Chan. “This year marks our 11th year of running this campaign and we are thrilled to continue the celebration, making it more exciting and inclusive every year.”
The company said the campaign reflects Chatime’s commitment to honouring cultural heritage while creating opportunities for customers to share in the joy of the season. Inspired by the tradition of exchanging red envelopes as a symbol of luck, Chatime has reimagined this practice to bring Lunar New Year excitement to its stores across Canada.
“Lunar New Year is a celebration of togetherness and new beginnings,” said Roxanne Tsui, Vice President of Customer Experience and Digital Commerce at Kevito Group. “Chatime’s Lunar New Year campaign not only respects these traditions but shares them with a wider audience, fostering understanding and appreciation of the holiday’s significance.”
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