3:15PM outlines Taiwan franchise expo services, offering tea ingredients and contract manufacturing for new product development

3:15PM / Shih Chen Foods has announced its participation in the 2026 Taiwan International Chain and Franchise Exhibition, listing services that include tea products, ingredient supply and contract manufacturing for drinks prepared by brewing or mixing. For businesses exploring Taiwan’s franchise market, the focus is not on franchise fees or recruiting new outlets, but on finding a drinks development partner to take a product idea through to commercial production.

From finished tea products to foodservice ingredients

Shih Chen Foods will exhibit at stand Q117 on the first floor of Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2. Its display will include a range of tea products and drinks for brewing or mixing, alongside tea leaves and related ingredients. The company also lists ingredients for foodservice use, saying it can help operators develop a wider choice of drinks.

These offerings provide different starting points for collaboration: finished products allow buyers to assess the existing range, while ingredients address outlets’ drink preparation needs. Operators planning to open a business or update a menu should clarify whether they need finished products, ingredients or product development services before starting discussions, rather than treating these as interchangeable arrangements.

Contract manufacturing spans concept to commercial production

For drinks prepared by brewing or mixing, Shih Chen Foods lists OEM/ODM contract manufacturing services covering product concepts, formulation and commercial production. This is the part of its exhibition announcement most directly relevant to businesses developing their own products, giving brands considering a drinks launch another potential partner to approach.

However, a description of service scope does not establish commercial terms. The announcement does not specify minimum order quantities, development fees, the number of sampling rounds or lead times. Nor does it disclose contract manufacturing prices. Operators cannot estimate a new product’s budget or launch date from the reference to commercial production alone.

Businesses hoping to introduce a drink across several franchise outlets could begin discussions by explaining how it will be used, the number of outlets involved and expected volumes, then requesting a suitable proposal. These are preparatory steps for assessing a partnership, not service terms already promised in the announcement.

Operational discussions do not amount to franchise recruitment

Shih Chen Foods also lists discussions on drinks applications and operations, inviting people planning to open a business or develop new products to visit its stand. Its intended audience therefore extends beyond consumers buying tea products to operators considering how to incorporate drinks into their businesses.

Importantly, the announcement does not set out franchise fees, outlet investment costs, licensed territories or franchise agreement arrangements. Attendance at a franchise exhibition should not, on its own, be interpreted as the launch of an outlet franchise programme. Ingredient supply, contract manufacturing and brand licensing are distinct business relationships and should be confirmed separately.

Define product needs before comparing partnership terms

The announcement offers three clear avenues for enquiries: buying existing tea products, sourcing drinks ingredients and commissioning the development of drinks for brewing or mixing. Operators can choose a starting point that suits their stage of development, rather than judging a potential partnership solely by the range of products on display.

In practice, it is worth bringing basic information to an initial meeting, including the target selling price, projected sales volumes, preparation equipment and storage conditions. Operators should also ask for quotations, supply requirements and development responsibilities to be set out clearly. Where formulation development is involved, rights to use the resulting formulation and arrangements for subsequent changes should be agreed separately. All these terms require specific discussion between the parties.

Practical tip: First distinguish between purchasing finished products, sourcing ingredients and commissioning product development, then request written terms. An exhibition service overview can be a useful starting point for discussions, but it should not replace a formal quotation or commercial agreement.