Bageterie Boulevard launches international franchise programme

Bageterie Boulevard announced the launch of its international franchise programme on 20 October 2026. The brand is seeking experienced operators and investors beyond its established Central European markets. The announcement marks a further expansion of a Czech concept that, according to the company, has grown to more than 75 restaurants over more than 23 years. The new offer is aimed primarily at partners capable of building a network, rather than opening a single outlet.

From a single restaurant to developing an entire market

Bageterie Boulevard, part of Crocodile Group, bases its Express Gourmet concept on baguettes baked on site and chef-developed recipes. It is now offering this model to partners with experience in managing multiple sites who want to participate in its further international expansion.

The announcement opens recruitment for partners; it does not report signed agreements or restaurant openings in new countries. This distinction matters: the published priorities indicate the direction of expansion, but do not in themselves confirm entry dates for individual markets.

The company emphasises the quality of partner selection over the speed of growth. In the announcement, Petr Cichoň said that finding the right partners mattered more to the brand than entering new markets as quickly as possible. Its plan to work with a limited number of partners in the first phase reflects this approach. The programme is therefore presented not as a broad offer aimed at attracting as many applicants as possible, but as a search for operators committed to building a network over the long term.

Three partnership models and expansion priorities

The brand has identified three groups of suitable partners. The first is master franchisees with the resources and experience needed to develop an entire country or a substantial territory. The second is area developers willing to commit capital and build a network of restaurants within a defined market.

The third group comprises established multi-site operators and strategic groups active in sectors such as foodservice, travel retail, petrol station operations or hospitality. This list shows that the brand is also looking for partners with an existing operational infrastructure, rather than solely those interested in a standalone franchised restaurant.

The company's initial priorities include Poland, Austria, Italy, Hungary, the Gulf region, the United States and Canada. Its plans therefore encompass both European markets and destinations further afield. However, the published list is not an opening schedule: Bageterie Boulevard presents it as an overview of markets for which it is currently accepting applications from qualified candidates.

For a prospective partner, the first decision is therefore the intended scope of the partnership. Developing an entire country, developing a defined territory and participating as an established operating group are presented as distinct routes, not interchangeable labels for the same offer.

Investment varies by format, with equity starting at €120,000

The published investment range starts at approximately €200,000 for a restaurant in a shopping centre food court. At the other end of the range is a standalone drive-through outlet, for which the company quotes approximately €1.2 million. The minimum equity requirement starts at €120,000 per site.

These are two different measures: total investment describes the overall scale of the project, while equity refers to the partner's required contribution. For a programme focused on multiple restaurants, it is also important to read the equity figure as a per-site requirement, not as the budget for developing an entire territorial network.

Bageterie Boulevard also reports typical EBITDA margins of 10–20%, depending on location. This figure comes from the company and should not be treated as a guarantee of performance for any particular new restaurant. Nor does it indicate an investment payback period. When assessing the offer, prospective partners should distinguish between the published indicative figures and a financial plan for a specific site and format.

Shared risk and transparent ingredient pricing

The offer includes an approach that Bageterie Boulevard describes as risk sharing. Under its published franchise policy, the company will not open an outlet in a location where it would not invest its own capital. This is a stated principle for selecting sites; the announcement does not promise that the brand will take an equity stake in every partner project.

Another stated feature is transparent disclosure of ingredient purchase prices, which are to be adjusted monthly in line with market prices. This is a specific point for prospective partners to discuss during due diligence, particularly in relation to cost planning for individual restaurants.

The company is already accepting applications for the first phase of international development. It promises qualified applicants a response from its franchise development team within five working days. This is a deadline for responding to an application, not for approving a partnership or opening an outlet.

Practical takeaway: Prospective partners should first choose their territory and the scope of the partnership, then verify the capital requirements for their planned number of restaurants. The published figures provide a starting framework for discussions, not a ready-made business plan.