Winning Franchisee

After moving to China, Sri looked for familiar foods for her children in a new city. She discovered Paris Baguette* in Pudong and fell in love with the bread and cakes. Upon her return to the U.S., she teamed up with her sister to open a Paris Baguette franchise.

Together, they will open their first location in Plainsboro, New Jersey.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Sri: I have a double master's — one in biochemistry and one in information systems. While I was working at the University of Michigan, my husband was transferred to China. We moved to the Shanghai Pudong area in 2013. This is where I discovered Paris Baguette.

Shanghai was a new city; I didn’t know the language and was looking to buy some basics for my family — that is when I walked into Paris Baguette. I went there every week for the seven years we lived in China. In 2019, when we returned to the United States, my sister asked me what my career plans were. I told her I wasn’t sure but knew I didn’t want to return to a regular job. She began to tell me about a bakery franchise opportunity that one of her colleagues had told her about — coincidentally, that franchise happened to be Paris Baguette.

Sri: My father was a businessman and hotelier and also owned a real estate business. Owning your own business is not foreign to me or my sister, considering we grew up watching and helping our father with his businesses. However, franchising was something very interesting to us. The flexibility it gives you, while also being in a structured environment, makes it a great opportunity, especially for beginners.

Sri: My sister and I believe that business is all about people. We look forward to connecting with our guests and offering a Paris Baguette that invites them in and provides a fantastic product.

Sri: The company's growth excites us the most because growth means more opportunity. I can’t wait to work with my sister and provide the best service to our guests.

Sri: Since I live in Michigan, my sister and I are interested in opening up a second location here. There is also room for additional locations for us in New Jersey. Right now, though, we are focused on making this first location a success.

Sri: As a customer turned franchise owner, I strongly connect to the brand and want others to feel the same when they come to our location.

Sri: In my opinion working with Paris Baguette is a good opportunity, and I believe it is a good platform for growth.

Paris Baguette is a bakery café franchise with more than 4,000 units across the globe. The brand first arrived in the U.S.

in 2005 and has since established nearly 100 locations in markets across the country, making it one of the premier franchise opportunities in its category. Paris Baguette’s primary mission, executed every day by its expert staff of bakers, cakers and baristas, is to share moments of joy with customers and help customers share moments of joy with their friends and family by providing world-class cakes, pastries, coffees, breads and other French-inspired bakery café fare.