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People walk by a Paris Baguette store in London on Oct. 15. Courtesy of SPC Group

By Kim Jae-heun

SPC Group has opened its first Paris Baguette store in London as part of its plan to use the English market as a stepping stone to expand its bakery chain business in Europe, the company said Sunday.

The food company's bakery chain in London opened on the first floor of Battersea Power Station located on the lower side of the River Thames, on Oct. 14. The former thermoelectric power plant was recently reopened after being renovated as a multi-purpose commercial and residential complex.

Various global brands such as Apple, Gordon Ramsay Burger and Starbucks are operating their businesses there also. SPC Group said the next Paris Baguette store in London will open in the popular district of Kensington High Street next month.

Currently, SPC Group runs the Paris Baguette chain in nine countries around the world. Among them, England has one of the largest bakery markets in Europe along with France and Germany. The UK bakery market's sales volume reaches 30 trillion won annually ($20.89 billion).

After testing its bakery franchise business in England, SPC Group plans to enter other European markets.

"England is a key hub for Paris Baguette's expansion into the European market and its franchise business. We plan to open 20 Paris Baguette stores in England by 2025," SPC Group vice president Hur Hee-soo said.

SPC will introduce some 150 types of bakery products specially made to suit the local palate.

"In the English bakery market, our butter cake is expected to gain more popularity than cakes with fresh cream," an SPC official said.

Prior to entering the English market, SPC Group opened Paris Baguette stores in North America featuring products like chocolate croissants and peanut cream bread, which have proven to be popular bakery items there.