Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Paris Baguette completes bread factory in Tianjin
The SPC Tianjin plant / Courtesy of SPC Group
By Kwak Yeon-soo
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Paris Baguette has completed building a production facility in Tianjin, China, in line with its strategic move to expand across the country, brand owner SPC Group said Thursday.
Korea's largest bakery chain said it invested 40 billion won ($35.2 million) to build the bakery on a 20,800 square meter site in the Xiqing Economic and Technological Development Area (XEDA), making it the largest of SPC's 12 overseas production facilities.
XEDA is located near nine highways and a high speed railway, and is close to Tianjin Port, which will simplify logistics for Paris Baguette in supplying products across China.
The plant was built in a move designed to consolidate operations and expand production in China.
SPC Group chairman Hur Young-in attended the opening ceremony along with Chinese officials to celebrate the completion of SPC's largest factory.
The factory can produce 390 items ― not just bread and cake, but also processed foods and sauces, and it will produce “dormant” or ready-to-bake frozen dough starting from 2020.
“China's annual bakery market size is estimated to be worth 4.4 trillion won, and is expected to see continued growth in the future,” Hur said. “We will supply high-quality products to gain recognition and loyalty from our Chinese customers.”
Paris Baguette has been growing rapidly since it entered China in 2004.
While it took nine years to open its 100th franchise store there and six more years to open the 200th, it later took just one-and-a-half years to pass 300.
Paris Baguette plans to further expand its business in China through the completion of the Tianjin plant and increase the number of stores there.
The SPC Group posted 2.2 trillion won in sales and a 59.9 billion won operating profit last year.