"K-bakery status elevated"... Paris Baguette ranks 29th on U.S. 'Franchise 500' list

[Financial News] Paris Baguette announced on the 26th that it ranked first in the bakery café category and 29th overall in the 2026 Entrepreneur Franchise 500, selected by U.S. business media outlet Entrepreneur magazine, becoming the only Korean brand to make it into the top 30. The Franchise 500 is a benchmark ranking published by Entrepreneur magazine, one of the leading U.S. business magazines alongside Forbes and Fortune magazine.
Each year, the ranking evaluates brands operating franchise businesses in North America based on more than 150 detailed criteria, including franchise size and growth, franchise infrastructure, marketing support, brand competitiveness, and financial stability. This year, 1,354 brands headquartered in North America with at least 10 operating locations were included in the assessment.
In fact, Paris Baguette opened 77 new stores in North America last year alone and now operates 285 locations in the region. This year, the company plans to add more than 150 new stores across North America, expanding its total store count to over 400.
The company is also investing in infrastructure to accelerate its U.S. business expansion. In September last year, it broke ground on a bakery plant of about 28,000 square meters in Texas, with final completion targeted for 2029.
Darren Tipton, chief executive officer (CEO) of Paris Baguette's Americas subsidiary, said, "The Entrepreneur Franchise 500 is regarded as the most authoritative benchmark in the industry," adding, "This achievement shows that Paris Baguette's global franchise business model has been recognized for its competitiveness and growth potential."
security@fnnews.com Park Kyung-ho Reporter