---
title: "The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®: Multi-Unit Franchise Growth at MUFC 2026"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/5fe5406a-b65b-4e13-9705-d4af9d4c01a0
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf/multi-unit-franchising-conference-2026-2731659
category: "Coffee & tea"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Coffee & tea"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-03-13T19:14:49.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T00:52:55.744Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/1773431230_2731659.png
---

# The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®: Multi-Unit Franchise Growth at MUFC 2026

**TL;DR:** The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will exhibit at the 2026 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference, showcasing its premium coffee and tea model and 60-year heritage. The brand is positioned for growth with high-performing multi-unit owners, with whitespace available for expansion in prime markets.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2026-03-13. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf/multi-unit-franchising-conference-2026-2731659).*

## Story

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf will exhibit at the 2026 Multi-Unit Franchising Conference in Las Vegas, March 24-27, showcasing its premium coffee and tea model and 60-year heritage. With a loyal fan base, institutional backing and a steady growth trajectory in the U.S., The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is uniquely positioned to appeal to high-performing multi-unit owners.

“The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has stayed strong because people keep coming back to the brand — and because we’ve been deliberate about where we grow and who we grow with,” said Peter Vavra, director of franchise development. “MUFC is a great place to show how our 60-year heritage supports a model that can scale, especially for multi-unit owners looking to build in high-growth markets.”

While many legacy brands have reached saturation in prime markets, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf still has whitespace available for seasoned operators to build out entire regions. Its expansion strategy, which prioritizes operational excellence and the protection of its 60-year legacy, has supported a healthy franchise system with thriving cafés in a range of models, including drive-thru, inline and non-traditional locations.

Currently, the brand has cafe development in New Mexico and Central California, as well as thoughtful expansion in non-traditional spaces.

“What makes this a special moment for developers is the sheer amount of whitespace available for a brand with this level of global recognition,” Vavra said. “Multi-unit operators who join The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at this stage have an opportunity to anchor a premium coffee and tea presence in their markets and lead growth in key territories.”

The brand’s presence at MUFC 2026 follows a strategic push to identify high-potential growth markets where demand for specialty café experiences is growing. With sophisticated market mapping and demographic analysis, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has pinpointed top development markets and can provide future developers with a clear roadmap for café density and long-term scalability across new locations.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s success is largely driven by its FROTH values — friendliness, respect, ownership, teamwork and honesty — which extend to the franchisor-franchisee relationship. With these at the heart of the growth plan, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf maintains open lines of communication and supports multi-unit owners with the resources, training and executive support necessary to successfully launch and operate multiple cafés throughout their markets.

“As we continue to prioritize growth with entrepreneurs who are aligned with our culture and vision, we’re looking forward to meeting with potential developers at MUFC to discuss the opportunity and learn more about them and their markets,” Vavra said.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- unit expansion (topic)
- franchise development (topic)
- brand growth (topic)
- Multi-Unit (company)
- multi-unit franchising (topic)
- new mexico (location)
- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (company)
- Peter Vavra (person)
- MUFC (location)
- Central California (location)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf/multi-unit-franchising-conference-2026-2731659). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/5fe5406a-b65b-4e13-9705-d4af9d4c01a0).