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Popular bakery café concept Paris Baguette is turning its attention south of the border.

The global brand with North American headquarters in Moonachie is looking to expand into Mexico and Central America, seeking a partnership with an experienced restaurant operator to lead the next stage of growth.

Paris Baguette Chief Development Officer Eric Lavinder described the opportunity as “a step above something like an area developer role” and an individual who will collaborate with the brand on goals, strategy and vision.

“The master partner will act as a franchisor in parallel to Paris Baguette North America, so they can open stores themselves or identify local franchisees to do so. They will oversee and support the development from a staffing, training, operations and marketing perspective,” he said.

Executing on behalf of Paris Baguette North America, the master partner in Mexico will pay a fee to the parent franchisor in exchange for rights to open or sell café franchises in their market, the chain said. They will also be entitled to a portion of royalties that any of their franchisees pay in.

The right person

Lavinder said Paris Baguette is especially interested in partnering with multi-unit and multi-brand restaurant operators who have developed the infrastructure, team and community connections to manage growth.

He also said the team welcomes operators from varied backgrounds, including fast casual, quick service and full service, as Paris Baguette “is something truly special that does not fit squarely into a single category.”

“We are looking for the best opportunity to partner with the right person – someone who is driven, knows he market well and can successfully introduce Paris Baguette to neighborhoods across Mexico,” said Lavinder.

The chain believes Mexico has the capacity for over 100 locations and Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara are standout markets that could provide a jumping-off point for continued expansion in the country.

According to the company, it will launch in Mexico before expanding into Central America.

‘The natural next step’

CEO Darren Tipton commented, “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.”

“The U.S. and Canada markets have been incredibly welcoming to us, largely thanks to the 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,” he said.

Known for its French-style sandwiches and freshly baked bread, pastries, dessert and coffee, the brand has grown to 4,000 units worldwide since its founding four decades ago in South Korea. That includes more than 160 restaurants in North America.

To reach its larger goal of 1,000 units in the U.S. by 2030, Paris Baguette has been busy targeting new markets. The brand has entered states like Arizona, Texas and Florida as well as increased its footprint in existing ones, such as New York and New Jersey.

In 2023, Paris Baguette opened 43 new cafes across the U.S. and Canada, awarded over 100 new franchises and saw 70 leases signed. The concept is already off to a strong start this year, with 25 new franchise agreements.