A Paris Baguette store at the Pavilion Bukit Jalil shopping centre in Malaysia | Photo credit: Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette is set to open its first store in the Philippines in the fourth quarter of 2023 in partnership with Berjaya Food and Middle Trade Inc. 
 

Having launched the bakery café chain in Malaysia in January 2023, Berjaya Food’s CEO Dato’ Sydney Quays said the master franchise agreement will see the business scale the brand to key cities across the Philippines, with five outlets expected within the next 12 months.  

Speaking to CNN Philippines, Quays said Berjaya Food will spend approximately $300,000 opening each store with an intital investment of around $1.5m for the five-store roll-out.

The first store is expected to open within one of Metro Manila’s larger shopping centres, although a site is yet to be agreed.  

Under the deal, Berjaya Food and its Filipino franchisee Middle Trade Inc. will be the principal operators of Paris Baguette stores in the southeast Asian country under Paris Baguette Philippines Inc. 

“It gives us so much pride and excitement to be able to announce this partnership between Berjaya Food International and Middle Trade Inc. in establishing Paris Baguette Philippines. This development came more than six months after a successful expansion in Malaysia, a feat which we hope will be replicated in the Philippines,” Quays said. 

Kuala Lumpur-based Berjaya Foods currently operates two Paris Baguette stores in Malaysia at the Pavilion KL and Pavilion Bukit Jalil shopping centres. 

The quick-service restaurant operator also operates nearly 400 Starbucks stores across Malaysia, as well as 79 Kenny Rogers Roasters outlets. 

Founded in South Korea in 1988, Paris Baguette has more than 3,600 stores in its native market and has grown its international presence to approximately 450 stores across 10 countries, including Canada, the US, Singapore, Malaysia, the UK and France. The majority – 3,800 – of its outlets are franchised.