Multi-unit franchisee Eric Chang has a deep connection to Paris Baguette, the global bakery café with over 4,000 locations. About a decade ago, Chang began contacting the brand about opening in Canada after seeing their rapid growth in the United States.

“They opened up so many locations in the States, and there were no locations in Canada,” he said. “It was an interesting concept, and it was really good for the States. There was a lot of potential, and I thought it would be great in Canada, too.”

According to Chang, one of the key differentiators for Paris Baguette in Canada was the way guests view baked goods and pastries. In some countries, pastries are viewed as a sort of treat or “extra,” but in Canada, many people view a pastry or other baked goods as the main meal. This is a strong indicator for Paris Baguette’s success as the brand positions them to provide key goods in the market, and they do so with higher care and quality than other would-be competitors.

With this in mind, Chang became the first person to sign a franchise agreement for Paris Baguette in Canada. But he wasn’t new to business at that point. He had overseen portfolios that included hotels, gas stations, restaurants and more, and he was excited to add Paris Baguette to the lineup.

“There are a few concepts [in the market] that can be compared to Paris Baguette, but they’re not exactly the same,” he said. “We have over 100 different kinds of breads, pastries and sandwiches, and we offer drinks. Other cafés have a very limited range of items, and they don’t produce everything in-store.”

Chang also notes that, depending on the location, guests will have different types and sizes of orders. For a Paris Baguette near a high school or office, people will stop in for their morning coffee and purchase a grab-and-go item to take with them for lunch. For cafés in more residential-leaning areas, there are many regular guests who visit to enjoy a cup of coffee and pastry in the café.

“It depends on the location, but we’re open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., so we can cater to all types of guests,” he said. “Even in a niche market, our market is bigger than our competitors’. If we’re compared to a coffee shop or a local bakery, there may not be enough bread after 2 p.m., or there’s no seating or no coffee drinks. We have all of that in one place, and that makes a difference.”

Given the performance of his existing locations, Chang looks forward to opening more over the years. Having known and loved the brand prior to signing his franchise agreement, he was confident to enter into an 11-unit deal. Now, he says what he saw as a guest remains true as an owner.

“When I opened my first location, the sales showed me the proof,” Chang said. “I believed in the brand, and that showed up in the numbers. If owners maintain good labor, Paris Baguette has a very good profit margin, and the sales are very steady. Even when things settle down after the grand opening, sales remain steady or slowly increase. People begin to recognize the brand, and they want to come to us rather than our competitors.”

With the backing of a proven global brand and a unique value proposition for guests, Chang has turned a decade-long pursuit of ownership into a dream come true. As he continues to grow his successful operation in Canada, he is part of a larger group of entrepreneurs working to revive the neighborhood bakery café experience across North America, leveraging a powerful business model and passion for entrepreneurship to build something meaningful for himself and his community.

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://ownaparisbaguette.com or https://1851franchise.com/parisbaguettecanada.