Fuwa Labs, LLC, the Toronto-based franchisor of Fluffy Fluffy Café (known as Fuwa Fuwa Café in Canada), is accelerating its next phase of U.S. expansion under the leadership of Marie Zhang, Chief Operating Officer, as the brand continues to build a scalable, high-performing franchise platform across North America.
To support this growth, Fuwa Labs has engaged Franchisor Advisory Partners, led by Andrew Sternburg, to implement a disciplined, data-driven franchise development strategy aligned with Zhang’s long-term vision.
Fluffy Fluffy Café has rapidly emerged as a distinctive, experience-driven all-day café concept, known for its signature Japanese soufflé pancakes and elevated guest experience. The brand currently operates 16 locations across the United States and more than 70 cafés globally, with a growing international presence including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Indonesia.
As consumer demand continues to grow, the company is focused on strengthening its operational infrastructure, franchise support systems, and development strategy to enable sustainable, multi-unit expansion across key U.S. markets.
Zhang brings more than 25 years of restaurant industry leadership experience, with deep expertise in scaling brands, building disciplined franchise systems, and driving operational excellence. Her leadership background includes senior roles across supply chain, operations, menu innovation, and global brand development at Yum! Brands, Blaze Pizza, and GoTo Foods.
Since joining Fluffy Fluffy in May 2025, Zhang has played a pivotal role in accelerating the brand’s U.S. growth, doubling the number of operating locations while leading critical initiatives across operations, marketing, and development. Her leadership has strengthened franchisee performance, elevated system standards, and established the foundation for long-term, scalable growth.
Under her leadership, the company is focused on building one of the most disciplined and scalable café franchise systems in North America, with a long-term vision of reaching 300 U.S. locations by 2030.
“Fluffy Fluffy has strong consumer appeal and a unique positioning in the market,” said Zhang. “Our focus is to scale with discipline, building a high-performing franchise system that delivers consistent guest experiences while creating long-term value for our franchise partners.”
Through its partnership with Franchisor Advisory Partners, Fluffy Fluffy Café is implementing a structured development platform centered on market planning, franchisee recruitment, and strategic site selection.
“Marie’s leadership brings clarity, discipline, and long-term vision to the brand’s expansion,” said Sternburg. “We’re excited to support the team in building a development strategy that prioritizes strong partners, great real estate, and sustainable system growth.”
With a strong foundation in place and increasing franchise interest across key markets, Fluffy Fluffy Café is well-positioned to become a leading growth brand within the North American franchise landscape.
