SPC Group said that it now plans to expand on LINA’s foothold in Europe | Photo credit: SPC Group

South Korean food and beverage giant SPC Group has confirmed that acquisition of French restaurant chain LINA's to bolster its expansion plans. 
 

The company’s European holding company SPC Euro has purchased a 100% stake in LINA's Développement, the chain’s parent company, having first brought the French bakery café into South Korea as a master franchise in 2002. 

As part of the acquisition, LINA’s products, primarily sandwiches, salads and specialty coffees, will be sold at existing SPC Group's other branded café chains, Paris Baguette and Paris Croissant. 
 

SPC Group said that it now plans to expand on LINA’s foothold in Europe, where it has 11 stores in France, and enter the chain in North American and Southeast Asian markets. 

“LINA’s technical skills and more than 30 years of experience in the French market will help the SPC Group expand its presence in the global arena,” said Jack Moran, Executive Vice President of Global Strategy and Development. 

As well as France and South Korea, LINA’s also has stores in Colombia, Lebanon and Qatar. 

Paris Baguette is the largest food-focused coffee chain in South Korea and operates around 4,000 stores globally. While most of its stores are located in its native market, Paris Baguette’s parent company SPC Group operates around 430 stores across China, the US, France, Vietnam and Singapore.