SPC Group Expands Overseas Business... Real Paris in Paris Baguette

France 2nd Saint-Michel Branch Opens
Clustered with Iconic Attractions like Notre-Dame
Enjoyable from Outdoor Terrace

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] SPC Group's bakery brand Paris Baguette is restarting its overseas business, which had slowed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, it opened its first store in Cambodia and relocated and expanded its second store in Paris, France.

On the 18th, SPC Group announced the opening of Paris Baguette's 'Saint-Michel Store' in Paris, France. The company explained, "The Paris Baguette Saint-Michel Store was opened as a relocation and expansion of the Opera Store, the second store in France, following the expiration of its contract. It is located in the Saint-Michel area south of the Seine River, a commercial district accessible to a wide range of customers."

Saint-Michel is home to Paris's iconic attractions such as Luxembourg Gardens and Notre-Dame Cathedral, and is a representative food alley near the Sorbonne University. It is also famous for the jazz club featured in the movie 'La La Land' and the Shakespeare Bookstore, the setting of the film 'Before Sunset,' making it a bustling area for both locals and tourists.

The Saint-Michel Store is a 160㎡ store with 20 seats, characterized by the concept of a 'bakery cafe' that can be enjoyed on an outdoor terrace. In particular, the 'Grab & Go' corner has been enhanced with various sandwich products for customers enjoying lunch near the nearby Seine River. The store has also strengthened its local professional staff, including pastry chefs from famous Parisian hotels and chefs who are former professors at the French culinary school Le Cordon Bleu.

The store design preserves the 'wooden facade' that harmonizes well with Paris's historic old buildings, and the interior adds a vintage feel with showcases made of granite and ceilings finished with glass.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, SPC Group is actively expanding its overseas business by steadily entering new regions. In June, it launched the first Paris Baguette store in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in partnership with the local partner HSC Group. Cambodia is the first store opened through a joint venture since SPC Group began its global business. SPC Group is exploring various business plans in collaboration with local partners, including exporting SPC Samlip products and sourcing raw materials through SPC GFS.

In June last year, SPC Group established a local corporation, 'Paris Baguette Canada,' in Canada, one of the major countries in North America. SPC Group plans to open 100 stores in Canada by 2030.

Since entering China in 2004, SPC Group operates over 430 Paris Baguette stores across six countries, including the United States, Singapore, and Vietnam.

SPC Group is also considering entering Indonesia, regarded as the largest market in Southeast Asia. In April, the group held talks with the Malaysian Chief Minister's delegation visiting Korea regarding the establishment of a halal-certified production factory locally. SPC Group plans to accelerate its Southeast Asian business while laying the foundation for future entry into the Middle Eastern market.