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BRAND SPOTLIGHT

BUBLUV

In this brand spotlight we take a deep dive into BUBLUV. 

Category:  Adaptogenic Beverages

Bubluv

📖 BRAND OVERVIEW

BUBLUV is a type of bubble tea (or boba). It contains no added sugar and is a healthier alternative to many other bubble teas on the market.

  • With less than 50 calories a bottle – founder Diana wanted to create a healthier bubble tea for those who are a little more health conscious and want to avoid high-calorie drinks.

  • Flavours include – black milk tea and matcha soy latte.

 

  • The global bubble tea market value is – due to increase in the next few years, with an impressive CAGR of 7.5%. It’s currently valued at $2.2 billion (2022) and this is expected to rise to $4bn by 2030.

🔍 LET’S GIVE SOME CONTEXT

  • Founder, Diana Ark Chen is an Asian American – who grew up eating the cuisine both places have to offer. She loves bubble tea, but drinking it didn’t seem to fit with her healthy lifestyle, especially as some drinks were upwards of 400 calories.

  • BUBLUV was born when – Diana sought a guilt-free, enjoyable beverage for herself.

 

  • It took her around  2.5 years – and a lot of taste testing to create the perfect product. In fact, she tried over 200 recipes before settling on the one that she loved.

🏢 BEHIND THE SCENES

  • Headquarters: New York, US
  • Year founded: 2022
  • Employee count: 1
  • Investors: Some private investors
  • Purchasing Options: Direct to consumer, retail (NY only)

👉 PRODUCT AND AUDIENCE SNAPSHOT

  • Product range: Black milk tea, passionfruit oolong guava and matcha soy latte bubble teas.
  • Innovation: Global flavour variety. Flavour education. 
  • Target Audience: Adventurous millennials and Gen Z consumers who are open to exploring unique and trendy beverages – they seek authentic and diverse flavour experiences. Bubble tea enthusiasts seeking lower-calorie options – desk-bound commuters, and individuals craving a guilt-free treat free from excess calories and additives.
  • Brand positioning: The fun and trendy bubble tea experience for millennials and Gen Z consumers.

🧡 THIS GETS US EXCITED

  • Three different flavours – to choose from: Black milk tea, passionfruit oolong guava and matcha soy latte. 

 

  • Diana specifically made her bubble tea healthier than her competitors’. An average black milk boba from a cafe can contain more than 400 calories and about 50g of sugar. 

 

  • BUBLUV’s contain about 1g of sugar and less than 50 calories per bottle. She’s tried not to compromise on taste, either, and the product has great reviews. 

 

  • She’s been very successful on TikTok – one video in particular gained over 2m views and created a storm that resulted in more than 28,000 people signing up for the pre-launch waitlist. Not many companies can say they had almost 30k customers before even launching.

 

  • Diana’s dedication shows – as she tested over 200 recipes to find the perfect one, and looked at over 60 manufacturers.

🤔 POTENTIAL BRAND CHALLENGES

  • Bubble Tea Education – despite its growing popularity in other parts of the world, bubble tea remains relatively unexplored by many in Europe. However, this unfamiliarity also presents an exciting opportunity for Bubluv to educate consumers.

🏁  SOME OF THEIR COMPETITION

 
 

🛒 WHERE TO FIND THEM

  • Retail – BUBLUV is available from a number of Target stores in the state of New York.

 

  • Direct To Consumer via the website – though its popularity means it regularly sells out. Consumers can subscribe to a monthly service, however, if items are out of stock, they may not be delivered on time

⏭  WHAT’S NEXT?

  • Expand to more locations – if Diana can resolve her stock issues, she could expand her product to many more stores, taking her business nationwide. 

 

  • Bring out more flavours – Diana has already stated that consumers should stay tuned for what’s on the menu next, so she may have new flavours in the pipeline to try out.

 

  • Hire more employees – currently, Diana is a team of 1, which is unbelievable considering how frequently she posts fresh content on BUBLUV’s social channels. The extra help may mean she can expand faster and more efficiently.

🧢  MEET THEIR TEAM

All data is correct at time of writing. 

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