WA bubble tea scene gets another player with Sharetea’s first Perth store opening

Popular east coast bubble tea chain Sharetea has thrown open the doors to its first Perth store and is already hinting at four more in the coming months. Despite the crowded market, the 12-year-old family-owned business noted it was currently undergoing major expansions of its franchise network — with 120 stores already operating in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Sharetea on Friday opened its first Perth shopfront located on William Street in the CBD. Sharetea general manager Anthony Mu expects a “very strong” take up of its wide variety of bubble teas. “We have emerged from the pandemic in better shape than many other beverage outlets and we see Western Australia as providing a major expansion opportunity for us to open in both Perth and also other areas,” said Mr Mu, who started with the company in 2012. “We are seeing very encouraging signs in the turnover of our stores this year, with an expansion in the number of flavours we are creating.” Originating from Taiwan in the early 1980s, bubble tea is a tea-based drink mixed with tapioca pearls and other different toppings. Flavours can range from fruity to herbal. Sharetea employs more than 1000 people across the country.