Moonachie, N.J. — Paris Baguette, the bakery café concept with 4,000 units across the globe, saw significant growth with its U.S.-based franchisees in 2021, signing 121 new franchise agreements among new and existing franchisees. Now, wrapping up the first quarter of 2022, the brand shows no signs of slowing down, with 43 franchise agreements signed and five openings, including in new states Michigan and Oregon, in first quarter alone.
“Right now, there is a void in the high-end bakery café space,” says Mark Mele, chief development officer. “If you look at all the brands that are in that space, we are Number 1 — we are like what Starbucks is to coffee. That massive global presence is really starting to garner a lot of attention in the U.S., and the marketplace is seeing an explosion. All of that growth is generating a lot more interest from both prospective franchisees and customers.”
Looking ahead, Mele says the Paris Baguette team is hyper-focused on achieving its goal of opening 1,000 units in the U.S. by 2030. This year specifically, the goal is to open 56 cafes. Mele said the brand is looking for franchisees who are passionate about serving people in a neighborhood establishment.
“We want someone who is going to take the time to be present in their store and be caring with the staff so that everyone understands the most important person is the guest,” he says.
Paris Baguette is targeting several markets in 2022, and has a goal of signing 150 franchise agreements and opening 56 units. Mele said target markets for the coming year include Washington, California, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Maryland. He added that the brand will continue its development in New Jersey and New York and will expand in some additional states in New England including Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Last year, Mele says the brand saw a whopping 44% increase in year-over-year sales in the U.S., suggesting Paris Baguette franchisees are better-positioned than ever for growth. Now, as the country begins to see the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, Mele says the $11 billion bakery café category is particularly well-suited for what today’s consumers are looking for in a restaurant experience.
“We are a true bakery, which is hard to find today as the marketplace moves towards mass-produced eateries with less baking on-site,” says Mele. “People crave food brands that ignite all the senses and ultimately bring them great joy. In order to reach our growth goals, we have to give the guest something they are not used to in their communities. We are confident we can fill that gap.”
Paris Baguette first arrived in the U.S. in 2005 and has since established nearly 100 locations in markets across the country. For more information, visit https://parisbaguette.com/franchising/.
SOURCE: Paris Baguette