The co-founder of Mr Bean has registered as Gong Cha Singapore’s director.

This news comes after Gong Cha officially closed down here on June 5, 2017, and had all of its existing outlets converted to another brand, LiHo.

Subsequently, on June 26, Gong Cha said in a surprise statement they were coming back again, to Singaporeans' delight.

Expertise running Mr Bean

The swiftness of Gong Cha's return might have been unexpected, but the person overseeing the re-entry might not be so surprising.

Kang Puay Seng, who was the co-founder Mr Bean, had previously taken his business from a single stall in People's Park Complex in 1995 to multiple outlets in Singapore and overseas.

At current count, there are 57 Mr Bean outlets locally and three in Japan and the Philippines.

But Kang's role in bringing Gong Cha back is made possible as it was reported that he has left Mr Bean in June 2015 and had sold his shares in the company to his other co-founder.

It was also mentioned that he was pursuing his other interests.

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No head-on competition with LiHo

Gong Cha’s parent company in Taiwan, Royal Tea Taiwan, was recently sold off to Gong Cha Korea, which in turn is owned by Japanese private equity firm Unison Capital.

LiHo was created as a result of a change in contractual terms resulting from this change in ownership. Instead of abiding by the new terms, the Singapore side that managed Gong Cha made the decision to break away and become LiHo instead.

As it stands, Unison Capital is co-owning the brand with Royal Tea Taiwan, Gong Cha's founder.

But the parent company has made it clear Gong Cha is not coming back to Singapore to start a rivalry.

It previously said: "We are not here to compete with LiHo."

Gong Cha is a cash cow

Competing head-on or not, is besides the point, as Gong Cha makes a lot of money.

Gong Cha was brought into Singapore in 2009 by RTG Holdings.

Singapore, together with Korea and Taiwan, are Gong Cha's most successful markets.

Before its closure, the 80 Gong Cha outlets in Singapore made S$30 million in revenue annually.

When news broke that Gong Cha was going to be no more in June 2017, there was no lack of interest in bringing it back.

Potential business partners ranged from individuals to larger establishments.

H/T iChef

Top photo via biranger.jp & Gong Cha