Paris Baguette opens first UK franchise store ahead of planned European expansion

Paris Baguette’s Canary Wharf outlet in London | Photo credit: SPC Group

Paris Baguette has opened its first franchise store in the UK and reaffirmed plans to scale its footprint across Europe. 
 

The South Korean bakery-café chain entered Europe with an outlet in Paris, France, in 2014 and launched in the UK in 2022 with a store in London’s Battersea Power Station. Paris Baguette currently operates six sites in France and three in the UK – the latest of which is located in London’s Canary Wharf financial district. 
 

In June 2023, Paris Baguette outlined plans to reach 200 UK stores via franchise partnerships by 2036 as part of wider plans to open 450 sites across Europe. The bakery-café chain is exploring opportunities to launch in Italy by utilising its existing licensing deal with Italian coffee chain Caffè Pascucci.  
 

In a press release, Paris Baguette said the UK will be an ‘important base’ to scale its European presence, with franchise expansion similar to the brand’s growth in China and the US – where 90% of its respective 300 and 180 store footprints are franchised.  
 

“The UK, where the franchise business is active, is an important base for Paris Baguette’s expansion into the European market. Starting with this first franchise store, we will actively expand the franchise business not only in the UK but throughout Europe,” a Paris Baguette spokesperson said. 
 

Founded by South Korean conglomerate SPC Group in 1988, Paris Baguette operates 3,750 stores in its home market and a further 600 outlets across 14 international markets, the majority of which are in East Asia.