Twrl Milk Tea Welcomes CPG Industry Leader, Gordon Hagedorn as New General Manager

[San Francisco, August 28th, 2024] – Twrl Milk Tea, a plant-based food and beverage company inspired by its founders’ Chinese and Taiwanese American heritage, is thrilled to announce Gordon Hagedorn as their new General Manager. With over 20+ years of experience within the CPG industry spanning across companies such as Weetabix and The Good Bean, Gordon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Twrl Milk Tea as their new General Manager. 

Hagedorn joins the company at a critical juncture when the company is rapidly expanding their business and continues to experience year on year growth with its nationwide distribution at Sprouts Farmers Market and Whole Foods Market. With Twrl’s plans to expand its reach and continue its mission of making fair trade high-quality, plant-based milk tea accessible to all, his expertise in driving business development and leading high-performing teams will be invaluable. At The Good Bean, Hagedorn was instrumental in scaling the business and preparing it for a successful acquisition by Bush Brothers & Company. 

Hagedorn states, “I’m excited to share that I’ve taken on the role of General Manager at Twrl Milk Tea. I am looking forward to leveraging my expertise and knowledge to bring our award-winning milk tea and boba toppings to the global spotlight. I am thrilled to be working with a team that’s driven by a shared enthusiasm for category disruption, excellence, and authenticity.” 

Co-founders Pauline Ang and Olivia Chen have always envisioned Twrl Milk Tea as a brand that deeply resonates with their community's cultural heritage. “We are thrilled to welcome Gordon to our team,” said Ang and Chen. “With Gordon’s extensive experience as COO at The Good Bean and his strong financial expertise, particularly his focus on profitability, we’re confident he will play a crucial role in our continued growth and success.”

In a recent conversation with Douglas Yu, senior contributor at Forbes, Olivia Chen, Taiwanese American co-founder of Twrl Milk Tea, shed light on the booming boba and milk tea trend. According to Grand View Research, the boba milk tea market size is projected to grow to USD 3.4 billion by 2027. 

Chen noted the significant momentum behind this relatively new category. “We’ve found immense support from buyers who see the potential in boba toppings and milk tea,” she explained. “Our commitment to bring a sustainable, innovative cafe-style milk tea and boba toppings to the home sets us apart.”

With the rise of the boba tea and milk tea culture, Chen emphasized how it’s creating a more inclusive shopping experience, blending modern trends with classic tastes. With Hagedorn as their new General Manager, Twrl Milk Tea is ready to accelerate its mission of providing healthier, more sustainable milk tea while honoring its cultural roots. 

In addition to welcoming Gordon Hagedorn as their new General Manager, Twrl Milk Tea is available through distributors including UNFI, KeHe, Faire, Pod Foods, and Mable. Consumers can also order online directly on Amazon, Weee!, and Twrl Milk Tea’s website. To complement their line of milk teas, Twrl Milk Tea also makes boba toppings such as Crystal Boba which is made from konjac (a root vegetable) and Brown Sugar Boba.  In response to consumer demand for more natural and exciting options, the brand recently launched its NEW single serve, dye-free Popping Boba toppings which come in 3 flavors, Strawberry, Lychee, and Honey. The recent addition of Hagedorn to the leadership team tops off a high-growth year for Team Twrl. With a commitment to quality, innovation, and honoring their cultural heritage, the brand is well-positioned to continue its expansion and bring its unique offerings to an even broader audience.

About Twrl Milk Tea

Twrl Milk Tea is bringing their delicious low-sugar cafe-like Boba Milk Tea into an easy and convenient format with their Twrl Milk Tea cans and Boba Topping packets. Using single-origin teas grown on organic family farms and climate-friendly pea milk, Twrl Milk Tea’s plant-based drinks are crafted with sustainable sourcing front of mind. Pauline Ang and Olivia Chen, founders and longtime friends, draw upon their respective Chinese and Taiwanese heritage to bring unique, allergen-friendly flavors in a creamy, nitro-infused format to consumers in the US and abroad. Twrl Milk Tea is a Bevnet Best New Beverage Winner, a Food Network Editor's pick, rated “Highly Recommended” by Bon Appetit Magazine, an Expo West Nexty Best New Beverage Finalist and a 100% women and minority-owned company based in San Francisco.