Paris Baguette, a top-ranked global bakery café franchise and the No. 1 bakery café in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for six consecutive years, continued to grow across North America in the third quarter of 2026. The brand signed new franchise agreements, secured leases for future locations, and opened new locations while continuing to see steady guest demand.
Earlier this year, Paris Baguette celebrated six consecutive years of positive comparable sales and traffic growth. That momentum continued through Q3, with the brand awarding 32 franchise agreements, signing 22 leases and opening 15 bakery cafés during the quarter. Year to date, Paris Baguette has awarded 119 franchise agreements, signed 83 leases and opened 53 new locations.
Third-quarter highlights included an agreement for the first Paris Baguette café in Maine, as well as agreements with existing Texas franchisees to develop six locations in Missouri and three in Pennsylvania. The brand also opened its first New Mexico café in Albuquerque, expanding its presence into another new market.
With 341 open locations and 40 additional locations planned to open by the end of the year, Paris Baguette is fast approaching 400 cafes and $1B in systemwide sales. That momentum was further recognized in early October, when the brand ranked No. 41 on the Franchise Times Top 400, a ranking of the largest franchise systems in the U.S. by global systemwide sales.
“Paris Baguette was built around a simple idea: the neighborhood bakery café should be a place where people come together,” said CEO Darren Tipton. “As we continue growing across North America, we’re seeing that idea resonate with franchisees and guests alike. We’re incredibly excited to bring the warmth, hospitality and everyday joy of Paris Baguette to even more neighborhoods.”
In addition to meaningful franchise growth in the third quarter, Paris Baguette also continued to expand its presence beyond its café footprint. The brand launched a national partnership with Dancing with the Stars for Season 35, featuring limited-time Mirrorball beverages, National Dance Day promotions and a sweepstakes giving fans the opportunity to attend the Season 35 Los Angeles finale. The brand also continued to strengthen its position within the franchise and real estate industries, with its executive team participating in International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) events and the International Franchise Expo (IFE) in Toronto. Sage Kriss, director of real estate, was a featured speaker at ICSC Columbus.
“We’re building more than a network of cafés, we’re building places where people can gather, connect and feel at home,” Tipton said. “That’s at the heart of Paris Baguette, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see our franchisees share that vision as we move closer to 1,000 cafés across North America.”
With 40 additional cafés planned to open in Q4, Paris Baguette is carrying that momentum into the final quarter of the year. As the brand expands its footprint, more communities will be able to enjoy its handcrafted cakes, pastries and breads baked fresh daily, along with sandwiches, salads, and made-to-order beverages.
