In what month and year did Chatime begin offering franchises?
Chatime Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
As of December 31, 2024, our affiliates owned and operated three company-owned Chatime Store locations in Southern California, which opened in 2023. We began offering Chatime franchises in April 2023.
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor, and Any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 6–9)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chatime's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Chatime began offering franchises in April 2023. This indicates that Chatime is a relatively new franchise opportunity in the United States as of the FDD date.
However, the FDD also mentions that La Kaffa International Co., Ltd., Chatime's parent company, has been offering Chatime franchises since April 2009. La Kaffa currently operates approximately 1,112 Chatime Stores worldwide by itself or through franchisees. This suggests that while the Chatime franchise is new to the U.S. under Chatime Franchise, LLC, the brand has a more established history internationally under its parent company.
Prospective franchisees should consider this distinction and further investigate the performance and support provided by Chatime Franchise, LLC in the U.S., as well as the broader experience and reputation of La Kaffa internationally. Understanding the differences between the U.S. franchise operations and the international operations could be crucial in evaluating the potential success of a Chatime franchise.