Hand-shaken drink shops are ubiquitous across Taiwan’s urban landscape, creating a fiercely competitive market. According to the latest statistics, Ching Hsin Fu Chuan leads with 930 stores, making it the largest chain by store count. It is followed by 50 Lan with 622 stores, Cha Zhi Mo Shou with 610, Machu Tea House with 390, and Milksha with 330. Despite intense competition from both emerging and established brands like CoCo, Ke Bu Ke Shu Cheng Hong Cha, Xian Cha Dao, and De Zheng, Ching Hsin Fu Chuan continues to maintain a high distribution density, drawing industry attention to its expansion strategy and operational structure.

While many new tea brands rush to secure premium corner locations in first-tier commercial zones, Ching Hsin Fu Chuan adopts a pragmatic expansion logic. The founding team has built a formidable operational moat by minimizing fixed costs, strengthening franchise relationships, and staying ahead of online trends—making it difficult for competitors to replicate.

Why Avoid Prime Corners? How Does the Alleyway Strategy Reduce Operational Risk?

Most chain beverage brands aggressively pursue high-visibility locations, often accepting steep rents to enter prime districts. Ching Hsin Fu Chuan, however, takes a different approach. The brand avoids high-rent commercial hubs, instead focusing its stores in lower-cost but stable local communities, school districts, and alleyway traffic corridors. This site selection model significantly reduces monthly operating costs for franchisees, enhancing resilience against rising raw material prices or market fluctuations. It also minimizes the risk of store closures due to unsustainable rent burdens.

In terms of product positioning, Ching Hsin Fu Chuan has long focused on affordable, widely accepted pure tea-based drinks. Leveraging economies of scale from over 900 stores, the headquarters secures bulk purchasing discounts on raw materials, allowing cost savings to be passed directly to consumers. This enables the brand to maintain consistently affordable pricing, making it a top choice for everyday consumption.

Only 2 Company-Owned Stores in Taiwan! Why Over 600 Franchisees Have Stayed for Over 25 Years

Ching Hsin Fu Chuan’s franchise network is exceptionally rare within Taiwan’s chain industry. Out of more than 930 stores, only two are company-owned; over 900 are operated by franchisees. Founder Chao Fu-Chuan, from the brand’s inception, emphasized helping people achieve stable livelihoods. As such, when selecting franchise partners, the brand deliberately excluded investors seeking short-term returns, instead prioritizing family-run operators committed to hands-on management.

How Did the Second Generation Break the Old-Fashioned Image? How a Secret Menu Item Conquered Taiwan

Facing the rise of trendy, modern-style brands, Ching Hsin Fu Chuan launched a comprehensive brand revitalization campaign after the second generation—Chao Chi-Hung and Chao Chi-Cheng—took over in 2013. In 2017, it became the first hand-shaken tea brand in Taiwan to collaborate with the popular cartoon character Egg Man, launching co-branded packaging and merchandise. This boosted store sales by 30–40% and sparked a multi-year IP collaboration trend across Taiwan’s beverage industry. Subsequent partnerships with Godzilla, One Piece, and Crayon Shin-chan successfully expanded its younger consumer base.

Reviewing online customer feedback, consumers frequently comment: “I only buy Duo Lu from Ching Hsin,” “Peach Jelly Black Tea and the secret menu—these two are my go-to orders,” “Among so many drink shops, Ching Hsin’s caramel-flavored pearl milk tea remains my favorite,” “I’ve loved Ching Hsin since middle school—it’s become a habit,” “Oolong Green and the secret drink are amazing,” and “I have a special affection for Ching Hsin, especially the Oolong Milk Tea—it has a rich tea flavor without being overly sweet.”

Taiwan Hand-Shaken Drink Chain Store Count Ranking

1. Ching Hsin Fu Chuan: 930 stores 2. 50 Lan: 622 stores 3. Cha Zhi Mo Shou: 610 stores 4. Machu Tea House: 390 stores 5. Milksha: 330 stores 6. CoCo: 300 stores 7. Ke Bu Ke Shu Cheng Hong Cha: 270 stores 8. Xian Cha Dao: 255 stores 9. De Zheng: 205 stores 10. COMEBUY: 180 stores 11. Xian He Dao (Di Yi Wei): 170 stores 12. Gui Ji Ming Pin: 120 stores 13. Liao Bei Bei (Niao Nong): 120 stores 14. Yi Mu Ri: 110 stores 15. Wu Tong Hao: 105 stores 16. Ke Cha Qu: 104 stores 17. Mr. Wish: 100 stores 18. Lao Lai Tea House: 100 stores 19. Cha Tang Hui: 100 stores 20. Zhen Zhu Dan: 80 stores 21. Gan Zhe Ma Ma: 70 stores 22. Kang Qing Long: 70 stores 23. He Cha Lou: 70 stores 24. Ke Cha Xiao Pu: 65 stores 25. Ba Yao He Cha: 60 stores 26. UG Le Ji: 59 stores 27. Song Ben Xian Nai Cha: 58 stores 28. Shui Xiang Cha Nong: 50 stores 29. Cha Ju: 48 stores 30. Da Ming Ben Wei Zhi Cha Tang: 43 stores 31. Te Hao He: 22 stores 32. Xiao Zhi Zuo Cha: 3 stores

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR Times
  • Category: Survey
  • Organizations: COMEBUY