---
title: "Gong Cha Appoints Michael Nedelkovich Jr. Vice President of U.S. Non-Traditional Franchise Development"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/e4b08995-951c-4f16-bde1-2aee94e71453
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20250522_gong_cha_appoints_michael_nedelkovich_jr_vice_president_of_us_nontraditiona.html
category: "Coffee & tea"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Coffee & tea"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit","People"]
published: 2025-05-22T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T17:47:38.093Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1561758033-d89a9ad46330?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Gong Cha Appoints Michael Nedelkovich Jr. Vice President of U.S. Non-Traditional Franchise Development

**TL;DR:** Gong cha has appointed Michael Nedelkovich Jr. as Vice President of U.S. Non-Traditional Franchise Development. He will lead the company's non-traditional development strategy in the U.S., focusing on refining design packages and building strategic alliances.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2025-05-22. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20250522_gong_cha_appoints_michael_nedelkovich_jr_vice_president_of_us_nontraditiona.html).*

## Story

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gong cha is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Nedelkovich Jr. as Vice President of U.S. Non-Traditional Franchise Development. A seasoned franchise executive with over 15 years in the industry, Nedelkovich’s expertise spans franchising, site selection, and strategic partnerships—expanding F&B concepts into non-traditional venues.

In his new role, Nedelkovich will lead Gong cha’s non-traditional development strategy in the U.S.

Nedelkovich’s priorities include refining the flexible design packages, accelerating speed to market, and enhancing operational adaptability. He will also focus on optimizing existing partner relationships, while building new strategic alliances.

“Michael brings a rare 360-degree perspective, having served as a landlord, tenant, and brand operator,” said Geoff Henry, President of Gong cha Americas. “His leadership and deep relationships in the non-traditional space.”

In his previous role as Director of Non-Traditional Franchise Development at Go To Foods (formerly Focus Brands), Nedelkovich secured more than 120 site-specific locations, earning him multiple consecutive President’s Club awards for sales achievement. His work included spearheading expansions into over a dozen casinos and several stadiums, as well as key partnerships across a range of non-traditional channels such as colleges and universities, healthcare facilities, amusement parks, zoos, and travel centers.

Nedelkovich also held leadership roles at Areas USA and Fraport USA, where he oversaw brand development and F&B concessions across major U.S. airports and toll roads, with a portfolio that included a wide range of national chains and chef-driven concepts—from Starbucks, Dunkin’, and Burger King, to Wolfgang Puck & Chef Jose Andres. He began his career supporting non-traditional development initiatives for American Express, gaining early experience in high-traffic consumer environments.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- QSR (sector)
- franchise development (topic)
- executive appointment (topic)
- Gong cha (company)
- GoTo Foods (company)
- American Express (company)
- Geoff Henry (person)
- Areas USA (company)
- non-traditional development (topic)
- Michael Nedelkovich Jr. (person)
- Fraport USA (company)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20250522_gong_cha_appoints_michael_nedelkovich_jr_vice_president_of_us_nontraditiona.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/e4b08995-951c-4f16-bde1-2aee94e71453).