Seoul: SPC Group, a prominent South Korean food and beverage conglomerate, announced on Friday that its bakery brand, Paris Baguette, has inaugurated 24-hour hybrid stores featuring an unmanned operating system. This initiative marks a pioneering step in the local bakery industry.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Paris Baguette has launched two hybrid outlets in Seoul that function with on-site staff during daytime hours and transition to an unmanned system late at night and in the early morning. This innovative approach allows for uninterrupted sales, as customers can access the store at any time. The process involves a credit card authentication method for entry during unmanned hours, and customers can purchase items by scanning barcodes at kiosks.
A company official stated, "Starting in 2026, we will steadily adopt the hybrid store model nationwide, focusing on urban areas with high late-night foot traffic." This strategic move is aimed at capitalizing on the demand for late-night service in bustling urban centers.
SPC Group has been expanding the Paris Baguette brand globally since 2004, establishing a presence in 15 countries. The brand now boasts over 700 overseas outlets, in addition to approximately 3,400 domestic stores. The group's international reach also includes industrial bakeries in China and Malaysia, with a third facility under construction in the United States since September.