Paris Baguette to enter Mexico, seeks master franchise partner
Paris Baguette is looking to expand its footprint in North America by heading south of the border.
The French-inspired bakery cafe franchise, which operates over 160 locations in the U.S. and Canada with over 100 more in development, will soon launch in Mexico, and is seeking a master partner to aid in the expansion.
Eric Lavinder, chief development officer at Paris Baguette, said the chain is looking to partner with multi-unit and multi-brand restaurant operators who have strong experience in the industry and have “developed the infrastructure, team and community connections” to manage Paris Baguette’s planned growth.
“We are in the search for the right master partner in Mexico who will take the lead on setting up the hub in Mexico that will provide the infrastructure and support needed to begin development of cafes in Mexico and eventually expand further into Central America,” Lavinder told Chain Store Age. “Having a strong master partner based in Mexico will help us determine the best areas in each market to target [with new stores].”
Lavinder added that the anticipated Mexican store format will mirror what is found in North America, but that the company can be flexible with store size when finding the right location. Typical square footage for a Paris Baguette location is around 3,000. The expected number of locations coming to Mexico will be determined after a master partner has been found.
The planned growth in Mexico follows a successful 2023 for Paris Baguette, with 43 new cafes opened across the U.S. and Canada, and over 100 new franchises awarded and 70 leases signed for cafes in development. Paris Baguette has already seen a strong start to 2024 with 25 new bakery cafes awarded.
“Being a key player in North America is a big focus for us, and knowing how successful Paris Baguette has already been in the U.S. and Canada, it’s the natural next step to bring the brand to Mexico,” said Darren Tipton, CEO of Paris Baguette North America. “The U.S. and Canada markets have been incredibly welcoming to us, largely thanks to the truly unique product and experience we offer. We believe that our community-centric approach and emphasis on quality will empower that same success in Mexico and other countries in the Americas.”
Founded in South Korea in 1988, Paris Baguette operates more than 4,000 units across the globe.