Bringing the Taste of Home to Canada: The Chatime Story
Written by Kayla Lo, Fête Chinoise Editorial Team, with notes from Kenton Chan.
Images provided by Chatime Canada
Bringing popular cultural foods and beverages to market in a place as culturally diverse as Canada is an enriching journey for entrepreneurs and consumers. We continue to hone in on bubble tea with another innovator and industry leader who has brought a drink that a majority of our readers are bound to have tried.
With the recent controversy on CBC's Dragons’ Den surrounding the pre-packaged bubble tea brand Bobba, Kenton Chan, co-founder and CEO of Chatime Canada, reflects on the evolving landscape of bubble tea in Canada. On one hand, it indicates that bubble tea has firmly entered the mainstream in Canada, attracting new investors and market interest. On the other hand, Kenton, who understands the craft and care involved in making each cup of bubble tea fresh, was surprised by Bobba’s claim to have improved bubble tea with their pre-packaged, factory-made versions. Deeply familiar with the culture and quality behind the bubble tea industry, he advises potential investors to first understand both the product and the cultural significance it holds before diving in.
Drawing on his experience of introducing Chatime to Canada 13 years ago and overseeing its growth ever since, Kenton knows firsthand that the bubble tea market is highly competitive, with new brands constantly emerging. Staying authentic, high-quality, and offering customizable options are key.
“Customers today are discerning and can quickly recognize when a brand is authentic versus when it’s just jumping on a trend.”
So why Chatime, above all other brands? Kenton’s journey began in 2010 when he was on his honeymoon in Australia. After waiting in a long line to try Chatime’s bubble tea, he was immediately captivated:
“We were amazed by the freshness and flavour of the tea and toppings we tried. It was a completely new experience. We thought, if we were so captivated, surely others back home would feel the same.”
The Taiwanese brand Chatime was founded in 2005 and has quickly become one of the representative bubble tea brands from Taiwan, with a vision to globalize the bubble tea experience. Franchising Chatime has provided Kenton a solid foundation with the necessary support and infrastructure to navigate the complex bubble tea industry: Chatime has its own tea farms in Taiwan’s Nantou County, and is transparent about its farming, brewing, and processing processes. Kenton also sources other ingredients such as purees and toppings from Asia. The first Chatime Canada store opened in 2011 at Bay and Dundas in Toronto.
For Kenton, bubble tea is more than a beverage and a cultural product which blends tradition with modernity—it’s also FUN from the enjoyment of sipping the tea to chewing the toppings, and the ability to customize every cup. Initially drawing in the Asian community, word-of-mouth spread, and the drink’s versatility soon appealed to a broader, more diverse audience. Whether you're a first-timer or a long-time fan, bubble tea has become a go-to drink for people of all backgrounds, with endless combinations to suit every taste, just like having your own secret menu.
To stay top of mind for customers, Chatime often rolls out seasonal offerings and collaborates with local brands to cater to local tastes, keeping the tea experience fresh and exciting. They also offer alternative sweetener and dairy options, and have recently earned Halal certification to make their drinks accessible to an even broader audience.
“Innovation is essential, but the core essence of bubble tea is the tea itself and its balance between texture, flavour, and customization.”
Staying true to this mission of providing high-quality, innovative, and fun experiences, Chatime has won the hearts of Canadians and expanded to over 100 locations across the country.
What began as a niche offering has now become a staple in the Canadian beverage scene. Bubble tea is a drink that can be enjoyed by everyone. Whether it’s the joy of sipping something sweet, the freedom to customize your drink, the appreciation for high-quality tea bases, or the alternative ingredients that make bubble tea accessible to all, every sip brings a unique moment of happiness.
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MORE FROM Fête CHinoise
Bringing popular cultural foods and beverages to market in a place as culturally diverse as Canada is an enriching journey for entrepreneurs and consumers. We continue to hone in on bubble tea with another innovator and industry leader that has brought a drink that a majority of our readers are bound to have tried. Drawing on his experience of introducing Chatime to Canada 13 years ago and overseeing its growth ever since, Kenton knows firsthand that the bubble tea market is highly competitive, with new brands constantly emerging. Staying authentic, high-quality, and offering customizable options are key.