Paris Baguette

After multiple runs in independent business ownership, Jet Chen, a Canadian entrepreneur, realized that he was interested in pursuing something a bit more attainable. He went on to open several bubble tea shops in the area. After traveling to New York City and experiencing&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguettecanada">Paris Baguette</a>, he started paying attention to the bakery café concept.When a friend informed him that&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisee-spotlight-former-sushi-and-bubble-tea-owner-expands-profile-with-paris-baguette-franchise-2723124" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Paris Baguette</a> would soon be awarding franchises in Canada, Chen was excited to get involved, knowing he would be supported by a brand with years of expertise and well-developed processes. Now, he is on track to open his first location in Heartland Plaza by the end of the year and is hopeful about future expansion with the brand.1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Chen:&nbsp;I’ve lived in Toronto for over 30 years. Before I invested with Paris Baguette, I owned other businesses. In 2007, I opened a small Chinese takeout restaurant. In 2011, I sold all of those. That was a comfortable job, but I had to be there for everything. After that, I opened a sushi restaurant that I ran until 2014, but it was the same situation. Everyone relied on the chef. When someone left, it was hard to cover their work.&nbsp;I realized that it was hard for me to move forward if I wanted to open more restaurants or expand. I needed to do something much easier. In 2015, I opened a bubble tea shop. I’m still running that in Ontario, but I have a team now — a regional manager and a district manager. I decided to expand again, and I was looking at opening more bubble tea locations, a hot pot restaurant or a bakery. I had always thought about opening a bakery and had even visited Paris Baguette in New York. Every time I would go, it would be busy. I kept saying that I knew I wanted to do it, but it just wasn’t time yet.Last year, I found out Paris Baguette would be expanding to Canada, so I decided to talk with the development person. Everything went smoothly, and that’s how I got into it. I like to make bakery stuff, so I’m excited to move forward with something a bit more challenging than bubble tea.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Chen:&nbsp;I started with my own brand at the beginning, and it takes a lot of time. You can’t do everything alone. It’s difficult for one person. If you do it brand new, it can take a lot of time. I built my brand alone with the first two businesses. I know how hard it is. That’s why I’m now turning to franchising. When there’s a corporate team, they’re there to teach you or help whenever you need it.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Chen:&nbsp;When I went to the U.S. quite often, I saw Paris Baguette more. When I went inside the store, I saw the service and control. It’s all very organized. I know there are other brands, but Paris Baguette can fit everybody. Canada is so multicultural, and I don’t want to put myself in a box. With a brand like Paris Baguette, I have more potential to open additional stores.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Chen:&nbsp;I haven’t opened the first location, so it can be hard to imagine what comes next. But Paris Baguette is in demand in Canada. Optimally, I’d like to open three to five stores within three years.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Chen:&nbsp;I would always see Paris Baguette when I would travel, and it was on my mind. But it wasn’t available in Canada for a long time. I have a friend who knows the company. When they started offering franchises in Canada, he immediately let me know. I was just waiting for my chance.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Chen:&nbsp;When I learned how to make bubble tea, sometimes I would think that I could do something another way — do it better. I did try, but at the end, I would tell people not to do that. Just follow what they suggest for you to do. The way they do it is a standard that is good for everybody. Just because I like the change I made doesn’t mean that other people will be comfortable with it.&nbsp;I realized that I joined the franchise and paid the ongoing royalties for the support. What’s the point in me thinking about these problems? That’s why the franchisor is there!ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE:&nbsp;Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The brand first franchised in the U.S. in 2015 and has since established nearly 150 locations in markets across the country, making it one of the premier franchise opportunities in its category. Paris Baguette’s primary mission, executed every day by its expert staff of bakers, cakers and baristas, is to share moments of joy with customers and help customers share moments of joy with their friends and family by providing world-class cakes, pastries, coffees, breads and other French-inspired bakery café fare. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://parisbaguette.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisee-spotlight-former-sushi-and-bubble-tea-owner-expands-profile-with-paris-baguette-franchise-2723124" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">parisbaguette.com/franchising/.</a>

Franchisee Spotlight: Former Sushi and Bubble Tea Owner Expands Profile With Paris Baguette Franchise

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Chen is working to open his Heartland Plaza bakery café by December with hopes to continue growing with the global franchise.

Franchisee Spotlight Former Sushi and Bubble Tea Owner Expands Profile With Paris Baguette Franchise

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The Recipe for Success: A Step-By-Step Guide to Opening a Paris Baguette Franchise

Paris Baguette to Attend Multi-Unit Franchising Conference 2026 Following Record-Breaking Year of Expansion

Paris Baguette Hits Record 77 Café Openings in 2025, Prepares for 400th North American Location

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image of jeff han and hyunjung han of paris baguette in Henrico County Virginia

Local Wholesale Veteran to Open Henrico County’s First Paris Baguette Franchise Cafés in Three-Unit Deal

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image of Chris Shin and Kim Shin owners of paris baguette in Coral Springs Florida

Broward County Couple Brings Paris Baguette Home to South Florida Community

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Second-Generation Restaurateur Habib Hashimi Partners With Family To Bring 11 Paris Baguette Franchise Locations to South Florida

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image of sweta goyal, puneet mittal, mamta singhal, rajneesh signhal from paris baguette from texas

How Two Dallas Couples Turned Coffee Runs Into a Five-Store Paris Baguette Deal

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<a href="http://ownaparisbaguette.com">Paris Baguette</a>, the bakery café franchise brand with more than 4,000 units, is continuing their growth in Georgia with a new Atlanta-area café projected to open this July. Located at 4119 Lake Street in Alpharetta, the café will serve a wide variety of freshly baked breads and pastries, handcrafted beverages, and expertly made and decorated cakes. The Alpharetta café will be the second for franchisee Layne Alkaasamani, a pastry chef turned business owner who was drawn to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info">Paris Baguette</a> because of their culture.“What made it stand out for me was the culture. I really like the corner bakery feeling,” Alkaasamani told&nbsp;<a href="https://whatnow.com/atlanta/restaurants/paris-baguette-bringing-new-location-to-alpharetta-this-summer/">WhatNowAtlanta</a>. “It’s such a well-made franchise. We still have baked goods every morning. Even though it’s a franchise, it doesn’t have a franchise feel. We always try to give you that feeling of just a small corner bakery in your community.”As she continues to grow with the brand and bring the neighborhood bakery café experience to her community, Alkaasamani hopes to open two to three additional Georgia cafés.Read the full article&nbsp;<a href="https://whatnow.com/atlanta/restaurants/paris-baguette-bringing-new-location-to-alpharetta-this-summer/">here</a>.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com">https://ownaparisbaguette.com</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette.">https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette.</a>&nbsp;

Photo of interior of Paris Baguette bakery cafe

The global bakery café franchise, which currently has nine cafés in Georgia, plans to open another in the Atlanta area with Layne Alkaasamani, who also operates the Kennesaw café.

WhatNowAtlanta: Paris Baguette Bringing New Location to Alpharetta This Summer

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MOONACHIE, N.J.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/">Paris Baguette</a>, a top-ranked global bakery café franchise and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/directory/paris-baguette/335793">#1 bakery café in the 2026 Entrepreneur Franchise 500®</a>, continued its strong growth trajectory in the first quarter of 2026, building momentum across the US and Canada through new openings, accelerated development activity and sustained guest demand.The brand has achieved six consecutive years of positive comparable sales and traffic growth, underscoring sustained guest demand and long-term system strength. In the first quarter of 2026, Paris Baguette delivered 31.21% year-over-year total sales growth, reinforcing strong systemwide performance.With more than 300 cafés operating across 29+ states and approximately 600 in active development, Paris Baguette is advancing toward and beyond its goal of 1,000 North American locations. Further demonstrating the strength of its model, the brand reports average unit volumes exceeding $3 million across its cafés (according to the brand’s 2026 FDD).This strong foundation is driving continued development momentum, including a 20% year-over-year increase in café openings and a 33% increase in lease signings compared to Q1 2025.Growth during the first quarter included the opening of a new Canadian café at Hillcrest Mall in Ontario, entry into Minnesota with its Hudson Road location and expansion into Jacksonville, Florida, where Paris Baguette received strong community responses in each new market. The brand also signed agreements supporting significant expansion across South Florida and Texas, while introducing Paris Baguette to Arkansas.Supporting its long-term growth strategy, Paris Baguette also broke ground on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crbgroup.com/news/je-dunn-construction-crb-break-ground-on-first-paris-baguette-manufacturing-facility-in-u-s?utm_source=chatgpt.com">first North American manufacturing facility in Burleson, Texas</a>, a strategic investment designed to enhance operational efficiency and support the brand’s expanding footprint.The brand’s momentum continues to earn national recognition, including a No. 29 ranking on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500?type=multisearch&amp;data1=randomize:false,rankId:f500&amp;sort=f500&amp;sortMethod=global&amp;globalLimit=25">Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500®</a>, a No. 1 ranking in the bakery café category, and inclusion on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prweb.com/releases/paris-baguette-ranked-no-112-in-2025-technomic-top-500-chain-restaurants-report-climbing-over-20-spots-from-prior-year-302548964.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurants Report</a> and 2026 Fast Casual Movers and Shakers ranking.“Our early growth in 2026 reflects both the strength of the Paris Baguette model and the continued demand for the neighborhood bakery café experience,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-tipton-0526324">Darren Tipton</a>. “We’re seeing strong momentum across new and existing markets, and we believe that positions us well for continued expansion throughout the year.”Looking ahead, Paris Baguette is continuing to scale globally while expanding its North American footprint, including development efforts in Mexico and targeted growth across Canada, with a focus on Québec, Ottawa, Montreal, British Columbia and Winnipeg. The brand expects to open more than 100 additional cafés in 2026, including its first drive-thru location, while entering 10 new markets.“We’ve kicked off 2026 with strong performance and recognition, and we’re not slowing down,” Tipton added. “We remain focused on delivering for our guests, supporting our franchisees and growing thoughtfully in the communities we serve.”ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE: Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The global brand first franchised in the U.S. in 2015 and has since established over 300 locations in markets across North America, making them one of the premier franchise opportunities in their category. Paris Baguette’s primary mission, executed every day by their expert staff of bakers, cakers, and baristas, is to provide guests with a warm, welcoming bakery café experience that creates joy for all. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/">https://ownaparisbaguette.com/</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The bakery café franchise continued their growth in Q1, driving development activity, expanding to new markets, and surpassing six consecutive years of positive comparable sales and traffic growth.

Paris Baguette Builds Q1 2026 Momentum With Year Over Year Growth, and Continued Expansion Across North America

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PHILADELPHIA&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="http://ownaparisbaguette.com">Paris Baguette</a> is celebrating a dual milestone in their North American expansion journey with the opening of their 300th U.S. café, which also serves as their first-ever U.S. airport café. Now open in Terminal C at the Philadelphia International Airport, the landmark café represents a defining moment in&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info">Paris Baguette</a>’s strategy to bring the neighborhood bakery café experience to high-traffic, nontraditional venues.&nbsp;The 300th U.S. café opening follows a year of incredible growth in which the brand opened 77 new cafés and awarded another 300 agreements for future development. Currently, Paris Baguette has over 600 total cafés in various stages of development, and momentum is only building, keeping them firmly on track to reach 1,000 U.S. cafés by 2030.“The opening of our 300th U.S. café at the Philadelphia International Airport is a testament to the incredible scalability and appeal of the Paris Baguette brand,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-tipton-0526324/">Darren Tipton</a>. “Expanding our footprint is exciting, but this is also a strategic milestone. By entering the airport space, we’re proving that the high-quality, artisan bakery experience can thrive in diverse environments, opening the door to serve a high volume of global travelers and entering a new phase of growth that includes expansion in nontraditional hubs.”The Philadelphia International Airport café will be operated by&nbsp;<a href="https://onsiteretailers.com/">Onsite Retailers</a>, the airport concessions company owned by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-roberts-0b8931179/">Terri</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-roberts-87a35730/">Sandy Roberts</a>. The couple brings extensive experience to the opening, with a portfolio that includes more than 90 units across over 10 airports in multiple categories.“We’re honored to be a part of this milestone with Paris Baguette, and we know it will be a valuable addition to the Philadelphia International Airport ecosystem. We’ve seen an explosion in culture surrounding bakeries,” Terri said. “Americans are moving away from packaged sweets and looking for real, artisan creations like the ones Paris Baguette is known for. Our goal has always been to bring the high-quality café experience into the airport, and Paris Baguette is the perfect fit for that vision.”According to Sandy, the brand’s existing recognition is another reason the concept makes sense for an airport setting.“We are very excited about the brand and believe their strong reputation will be appealing to the traveling public,” he said. “This is a brand guests already know and have experience with, and we are looking forward to bringing Paris Baguette to the Philadelphia International Airport.”As Paris Baguette continues their incredible national growth, the Philadelphia International Airport location will serve as a foundation for future travel hub developments, supporting an important shift beyond the traditional retail model and positioning Paris Baguette more firmly as a beloved global brand bringing warmth and joy in an entirely new context.ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTEParis Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The global brand first franchised in the U.S. in 2015 and has since established over 300 locations in markets across North America, making them one of the premier franchise opportunities in their category. Paris Baguette’s primary mission, executed every day by their expert staff of bakers, cakers, and baristas, is to provide guests with a warm, welcoming bakery café experience that creates joy for all. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.">https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.</a>&nbsp;

Photo of Philadelphia International Airport Paris Baguette bakery café

In addition to the 300-café milestone, the PHL café also represents Paris Baguette’s first-ever U.S. airport café and another key step on their path to 1,000 U.S. cafés by 2030.

Paris Baguette Celebrates Major U.S. Milestone with 300th Café Opening at Philadelphia International Airport

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In a recent episode of the&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paris-baguette-and-the-road-to-1-000-restaurants-with/id1448762355?i=1000750526071">“QSR Uncut” podcast</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://ownaparisbaguette.com">Paris Baguette</a> Chief Development Officer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-scaccio-83728422">Nick Scaccio</a> sat down with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyklein14/">Danny Klein</a> to discuss the rapid growth the bakery café franchise has experienced across North America. When Scaccio joined the brand in 2020, there were 73 cafés in the U.S. Now, there are more than 290 cafés across the country with hundreds more in development.Scaccio attributes much of this momentum to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info">Paris Baguette’s</a> unique brand identity that prioritizes the highest quality across a range of freshly-made breads and pastries, fresh sandwiches and salads, handcrafted beverages, and both cake slices and whole cakes. With such diversity in the menu, Paris Baguette is relevant across all dayparts, from morning pastries and coffee to lunchtime grab-and-go items.Over the last few years, Paris Baguette has seen incredible growth, defying industry trends of stalled growth. Scaccio pointed to a people-first philosophy as the primary driver of this growth, emphasizing the importance of a strong partnership between the corporate team and local operators.“How genuine someone is about loving the brand is critical,” Scaccio said on the podcast. “So we talk openly about the menu, what they've tried, which franchise owners they've contacted, and how the conversations went. We meet in person, when and where possible … And then, if there are other businesses, we'll tour and spend time and even meet some members of their team. I think all of that is critical before entering an extremely long-term relationship. We take that very seriously, and we appreciate that our franchise owners do, too.”Looking ahead, Paris Baguette is showing no signs of slowing down. With a goal of reaching 1,000 U.S. units by 2030, Scaccio says he expects to have that number fully accounted for between open cafés and awarded development deals by the end of the quarter. As the franchise continues to reestablish the neighborhood bakery café as the heart of communities across the country, they’re proving a focus on hospitality and execution remains key to success in competitive markets.Listen to the full podcast&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paris-baguette-and-the-road-to-1-000-restaurants-with/id1448762355?i=1000750526071">here</a>.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com">https://ownaparisbaguette.com</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette.">https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette.</a>&nbsp;

Photo of Paris Baguette CDO Nick Scaccio, Road to 1,000 Restaurants

As the bakery café franchise continues along a rapid growth trajectory, their people-first values and versatile, all-day menu are fueling steady success. 

QSR Uncut: Paris Baguette and the Road to 1,000 Restaurants, With CDO Nick Scaccio

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MOONACHIE, N.J.&nbsp;— Following a year of remarkable growth in 2025, including 77 new cafés opened and nearly 300 more awarded,&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/">Paris Baguette</a>, the global franchise with over 290 cafés across the U.S., will attend the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.multiunitfranchisingconference.com/">Multi-Unit Franchising Conference</a> March 24-27. As they continue to grow,&nbsp;<a href="http://1851franchise.com/parisbaguette/info">Paris Baguette</a> has remained committed to upholding the highest standards throughout the system, from initial franchisee onboarding to the in-café guest experience. MUFC represents another key opportunity for the brand to continue this growth and collaboration.“As a growing brand, it’s essential that we remain connected throughout our system and with other leaders in the industry,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-tipton-0526324">Darren Tipton</a>. “MUFC gives us an opportunity to continue building on our momentum, nurture collaboration both among our teams and with the broader multi-unit community, and highlight Paris Baguette as a leader in the industry and a prime opportunity for skilled multi-unit owners looking to grow their portfolios.”Over the course of the conference, Paris Baguette owners and leadership will have opportunities to hear from experts, gain new perspectives and weigh in on key topics for multi-unit franchisees. Topics include the guest experience, the meaning of value and service for today’s employees and consumers, financing for growth, and operations and profitability strategies.For Paris Baguette, which has emphasized franchisee engagement, support, and alignment as they grow, these conversations, workshops, and networking opportunities are another way to support healthy, long-term growth.“The people behind Paris Baguette are what make us who we are,” Tipton said. “Continuing to emphasize that personal aspect and leaning into a franchise-first model that recognizes the value of a clear, cohesive culture and a supported, satisfied franchisee base will be a key factor in our ongoing success.”In addition to strategic alignment across multiple levels of the Paris Baguette franchise system, Paris Baguette will also be hosting a booth at #2125 and #2123 to showcase their model, growth opportunities for prospective franchise owners, and hand out free samples.&nbsp;With strong momentum across North America and a format built for growth, Paris Baguette continues to stand out for entrepreneurs seeking a bakery café brand with both scale and neighborhood appeal.The Paris Baguette team will be available to discuss their industry-leading support, elevated café design, and growth opportunities across the country.For more information, visit the Paris Baguette team at Booth&nbsp;#2125 and #2123 or email kkeith@parisbaguette.com to schedule a meeting.ABOUT PARIS BAGUETTE: Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The global brand first franchised in the U.S. in 2015 and has since established over 290 locations in markets across North America, making them one of the premier franchise opportunities in their category. Paris Baguette’s primary mission, executed every day by their expert staff of bakers, cakers, and baristas, is to provide guests with a warm, welcoming bakery café experience that creates joy for all. To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.">https://ownaparisbaguette.com/.</a>&nbsp;

image of paris baguette attending mufc 2026

After opening 77 cafés and awarding nearly 300 more in 2025, the global bakery café franchise will connect with high-growth multi-unit owners and drive innovation and alignment throughout the system.

Franchisee Spotlight Former Sushi and Bubble Tea Owner Expands Profile With Paris Baguette Franchise

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