The bakery-café chain has signed agreements to launch in Brunei, Laos and Thailand in 2025, is gearing up for a Middle East launch and plans ambitious growth in North America and Europe
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A Paris Baguette store in Shenyang, China | Photo credit: SPC Group
South Korean food and beverage conglomerate SPC Group has outlined plans to reach 12,000 Paris Baguette stores globally by 2030.
Founded in 1988, Paris Baguette is one of the largest branded coffee chains in South Korea with 3,750 stores. The bakery-café chain made its international debut in China in 2004 with an outlet in Shanghai and now operates more than 600 sites across 14 international markets.
China is Paris Baguette’s largest international market with 348 outlets. The bakery-café chain is seeking to open 100 further stores in the country in 2025 while also expanding its presence across East Asia, where it currently operates outlets in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Paris Baguette is expected to launch in Brunei, Laos and Thailand in 2025 following franchise agreements with Malaysia’s Berjaya Food and Vientiane-based Kolao Group.
Outside of East Asia, SPC Group has agreed to form a joint venture with UAE-based Galadari to launch Paris Baguette in 12 markets across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. The food and beverage group expects to complete construction of a halal-certified bakery, manufacturing and distribution centre in Malaysia by the end of 2024, which will distribute bread and pastries to Paris Baguette stores and wholesale partners across Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
North America has long been a key growth market for Paris Baguette. The South Korean chain launched in the US in 2005, began franchising in 2015 and opened its first store in Canada in March 2023. Local licensee Paris Baguette North America currently operates 193 stores across the US and Canada and has an ambitious goal of reaching 1,000 sites by 2030.
Paris Baguette also has strong ambitions in Europe, where it currently operates six stores in France and three outlets in the UK. The bakery-café chain launched its first European franchised store in London in November 2024 and plans to scale to 450 sites across Europe by 2036.
SPC Group is currently exploring opportunities to launch Paris Baguette in Italy by utilising its existing licensing deal with Italian coffee chain Caffè Pascucci.
Paris Baguette’s global revenues increased 10% year-on-year to reach ₩659bn ($460.8m) in 2023.