Why Paris Baguette Owner Ardy Mohtaram is Eager to Grow with the Brand

Paris Baguette, a bakery café brand with more than 4,000 locations around the globe, is emerging as one of the hottest franchise opportunities in the U.S. as the brand focuses on American expansion. Ardy Mohtaram is a newly-signed Paris Baguette franchisee in New Jersey who has been in the food business since he was 14. 

Starting as food service staff and working his way up to a multi-unit owner-operator with a robust portfolio of retail stores, Mohtaram is no stranger to the day-to-day life of running a business. “I currently operate two liquor stores and one deli convenience store,” said Mohtaram. “As far as my knowledge of food, I’ve spent 26 years in the food service industry.” 

It was this experience that first introduced Mohtaram to the Paris Baguette brand. “There is a Paris Baguette three doors down from one of my stores,” he said. “I have been going there for the past 10 years and have been very impressed with the way they operate the brand, the product and the business model, as well as the revenue it is producing. That is why I wanted to get into it.”

Mohtaram reached out to the Paris Baguette team in February of 2022 and began seriously considering expanding his portfolio with the concept. “I love the whole idea of Paris Baguette — the way they are designed, their concept, their teamwork, their products and the way they operate,” he said. “I had a franchise business a long time ago, and I’ve had a lot of opportunities to invest in franchises since then, but Paris Baguette really stands out. The concept caters to all demographics and that is what really appealed to me.” 

Paris Baguette’s dedication to ensuring every store spreads joy makes it the ideal setting for communities to gather with the simple pleasures of a homemade baked good. On the backend, Paris Baguette empowers franchisees like Mohtaram with a streamlined operational model and a dedication to quality craftsmanship. Artisan bakers, cake makers and baristas make the high-quality goods in-house in a way that doesn’t break the bank on labor costs. 

Additionally, franchisees can be confident they will have all the support they need to run a successful, beloved neighborhood café in their community, from site selection and supply chain assistance to local marketing and staffing support.

“We have been working closely with the team as we gear up for opening, and they’ve been very great and supportive,” said Mohtaram. “We just signed a lease, and I am starting to work with an architect, designer and real estate team.”

Looking ahead, Mohtaram says he hopes to expand to surrounding markets and open at least three or four other locations. With growth-minded franchisees like Mohtaram joining the brand, Paris Baguette is well on its way to achieving its goal of opening 1,000 units in the U.S. over the next 10 years. 

“We want the brand to re-establish the neighborhood bakery café in every community, and qualified entrepreneurs like Ardy Mohtaram are helping us do that,” said Mark Mele, chief development officer for Paris Baguette. “There’s so much joy to be had in having the opportunity to visit a neighborhood bakery café that offers expertly crafted baked and brewed goods to guests. We want our guests to be able to understand our values and the idea that our brand is really about spreading joy.”

The total investment to franchise with Paris Baguette ranges from $528,270 and $1,638,554, including a $50,000 franchise fee. For more information, please visit https://parisbaguette.com/franchising/.