Paris Baguette opening a new café every week in the US

Paris Baguette plans to reach 1,000 outlets across North America by 2030 | Photo credit: Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette has opened 13 new stores across the US in the first three months of 2023 and signed an additional 40 franchise agreements. 
 

In January 2023, Paris Baguette America said it would seek to open 60 new stores and sign 130 franchise agreements this year. 

The South Korean bakery café chain is now approaching 150 US stores, amid longer-term plans to reach 1,000 outlets across North America by 2030. 

“We are very proud of the momentum we have. Last year we opened 24 stores. This year, we are more than halfway there in just three months. There has been a tremendous amount of franchise growth activity this year. I expect it to continue through Q2,” said Mark Mele, Chief Development Officer, Paris Baguette America. 
 

Paris Baguette opened new stores in Texas, New Jersey, California and New York this year and will focus its second quarter expansion on states where it is already present but has a lower concentration of cafés, such as Arizona, Kansas and South Carolina. 

Mele also said sales growth is being driven by a widening customer-base rather than product price increases.  

Paris Baguette also commenced a partnership with Italian coffee roaster Lavazza in its first quarter of 2023, serve the Italian company’s coffee across its US stores. Alongside Lavazza coffee being served for all espresso-based beverages, the agreement will also see all Paris Baguette US outlets serve Lavazza’s ready-to-drink products. 

The bakery café chain’s US business posted 42% year-on-year sales growth for its 2022 financial year, with like-for-like sales growing 31%. 

Founded in South Korea in 1988, Paris Baguette operates more than 4,000 stores globally, including approximately 3,400 in its native market. The company began franchising in the US in 2015.  

In March 2023 the bakery café chain opened its first outlet in Canada at the Yonge Sheppard Centre shopping mall in Toronto and plans to open ‘at least’ seven stores across the North American country this year.