Why Now Is the Time To Grow With Paris Baguette

Mark Mele, Chief Development Officer of global pastry powerhouse Paris Baguette, and Wen Li, multi-unit owner with the bakery brand, recently joined 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills for a franchise education seminar, where guests were able to participate in the discussion and ask questions related to franchising with the brand.

Before kicking off the Q&A discussion, Mele shared why he believes Paris Baguette offers a lucrative opportunity for passionate entrepreneurs right now. “We plan to have 1,000 cafés open in the next 10 years,” said Mele. “A lot of local bakeries have disappeared over the years. We’re filling that void. At the end of August, we were at 75 executed franchise agreements, so we are firing on all cylinders.”

Li discussed why she decided to become a franchisee with the brand, emphasizing how supportive the Paris Baguette team has been since the very beginning. “This brand is so strong,” she said. “And I appreciate the support structure. Thanks to the corporate team, I only have to take care of the customers and my employees. I don’t need to worry about anything else.”

During the Q&A session, Mele and Li addressed several questions, covering topics like franchisee cannibalization, menu expansion possibilities and training programs.