Paris Baguette

About Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette is a South Korean multinational chain of bakery-cafés, owned by the SPC Group and headquartered in Seoul. In 1986, it opened the first Paris Baguette in Seoul. Founded in 1988, the franchise brand of Paris Baguette has grown to more than 4,000 units worldwide. In June 2023, Paris Baguette announced plans to expand to 200 UK sites by 2036 through franchising, as part of 450 new units in Europe.

In October 2023, Paris Baguette signed up its first UK franchisees, with Wayne and Jamie Stevenson, of BH Property Brother’s. Its first franchise store here opened in October 2024, in Canary Wharf.

The brand saw out 2025 with franchise openings in Westfield White City and Notting Hill Gate to take its UK estate to three franchise sites and five altogether. This will be followed by launches in Waterloo and Richmond in the first half of 2026.

Speaking at the Propel Franchisor Showcase in November 2025,

Nico Gaillot, the chief operating officer of Paris Baguette UK, said: “By the end of next year, we should be on about ten stores if everything goes well. The UK was chosen as we see it as a springboard for the rest of Europe, and I think the company feels if the UK works, we’re looking at the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia. I think it’s a good market to test things for us. When I see the transaction for a new brand - 3,800 guests per week in a store - that’s strong for something that nobody knew about before.”

He added: “It’s likely to be just the two company stores and the rest franchised. In the US, where we have 250 stores, we started with 50 corporate and now we’re down to 20 as we have sold a load to franchisees. In Korea, it’s predominantly franchised too, so that is the model. However, if there’s an opportunity where the landlord will only consider a corporate store, we would look at it.”

Paris Baguette opened its seventh UK location in June 2026, in Richmond, south west London.

Why franchise with Paris Baguette

• ✓The minimum investment level required is £500,000, with a single unit franchise fee of £50,000, or £40,000 for multiple sites. ongoing royalties of 5% of gross sales (exclusive of VAT) are required which covers the use of the Paris Baguette brand name and business development support. A franchisee could expect to turn a profit within three years, having also earned a salary during that time, and a return on investment of £1.5-2m is expected within two years. Multi-unit opportunities are available and the agreement term is for ten years, with a renewal periods after five years and every five years thereafter.
• ✓The company provides franchise owners with the tools and support for a successful business and the delivers support for each step, including help with site selection, store design and construction, training, operations support, product development, logistics, distribution, advertising and marketing guidance.
• ✓It offers a proven, successful franchise model operational in 35 countries and a highly skilled leadership team. It is seeking well-capitalised franchise partners, with a £1m net worth, but franchisees will be able to receive preferential terms with Paris Baguette’s lending partner, ​​Citibank, if needed.
• ✓There is a minimum of eight weeks’ training before the café opening, and Paris Baguette provides an onsite support team to help with the first few weeks of operation, as well as providing ongoing operations support and supplementary training. Franchisees are also responsible for signing the lease for the property that will be operated as a Paris Baguette site.
• ✓The company said: “We’re a world-renowned boulangerie and patisserie brand, delighting our guests with a feast of freshly baked treats including baguettes, artfully crafted cakes, pastries and savouries. No matter how big we grow, we’re always that ‘great little place’ with the massive reputation that keeps our guests coming back time after time. Just one reason why franchising with Paris Baguette could be your next good idea.”

Investment breakdown