Paul (bakery)

In 1889 a bakery was established by Charlemagne Mayot and his wife in the town of Croix, Nord, France.{{cite web|url=https://www.paul-bakeries.com/en/paul-house/our-story|title=Our history|website=paul-bakeries.com|access-date=27 May 2012}} In 1908, their son, Edmond Mayot, took over the bakery. In 1935, Edmond's daughter, Suzanne Mayot, married Julien Holder, himself a baker and pastry chef. Together, they opened a bakery on Rue des Sarrazins, in the Wazemmes district of Lille.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/region/dans-les-fournils-de-paul_483089.html|title=Dans les fournils de Paul|language=fr|website=leexpress.fr|date=25 January 2006 |access-date=26 January 2006}} In 1953 the Holders and their son Francis took over a better known bakery-pâtisserie owned by the Paul family, and they kept the "Paul" name.{{Cite web|url=https://www.observatoiredelafranchise.fr/interviews-paul/rencontre-exclusive-avec-maxime-holder-president-directeur-general-des-boulangeries-paul-430-1040.htm|title=Rencontre exclusive avec Maxime Holder, président directeur général des Boulangeries Paul|language=fr|website=observatoiredelafranchise.fr|access-date=4 November 2009}}

Following the death of his father in 1958, Francis Holder with his mother took over the family bakery in Lille. Because of his status as a breadwinner, Francis Holder did not fight in the Algerian War, however, he was sent for his military obligations to Nogent-le-Rotrou, in Eure-et-Loir. When he returned in 1963, he opened a new Paul bakery, on boulevard de Belfort, Lille, with 10,000 old francs. With his mother's assistance, he expanded the business and when the Nouvelles Galeries opened in 1965, he immediately offered to supply their bread. Under the "Moulin Bleu", Francis Holder provided bread to Auchan and Monoprix from his bakery in Lambersart. By 1970, he was able to purchase an abandoned industrial site at La Madeleine, in the suburbs of Lille, transforming it into an enormous bakery.

The installation in 1972 of a wood stove at the original Lille bakery proved so popular that, as the Paul chain expanded into French malls in Paris and other major French cities, it was incorporated into the general layout. Apart from a change of livery in 1993 (to the now-signature black), the layout and visual aesthetic of Paul stores has not changed.

As of 2022, there are more than 750 Paul bakery/café restaurants, of which 424 are in France and over 300 are in 46 other countries.

The first bakery outside France was opened in 1985 in Barcelona.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/bakery-group-paul-to-open-second-restaurant-de-paul|title=Bakery group Paul to open second Restaurant de Paul|website=thecaterer.com|date=10 June 2015 |access-date=10 June 2015}} The first international franchise started in 1989 in Japan, with a bakery opened in Nagoya. The third country outside France to open was Morocco in 1998, where 14 Paul bakeries are open.{{Cite web|url=https://medias24.com/2013/10/05/paul-part-a-la-conquete-de-la-province-des-gares-et-des-aeroports/|title=Paul part à la conquête de la province, des gares et des aéroports|website=medias24.com|date=5 October 2013 |access-date=5 October 2013}} It is also present with 34 bakeries in United Kingdom since 2000, 14 in Lebanon since 2002,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nogarlicnoonions.com/boulangerie-paul-baking-french-quality-since-2002/|title=Boulangerie Paul: Baking French Quality Since 2002|website=nogarlicnoonions.com|date=10 July 2014 |access-date=10 July 2014}} 21 in Belgium since 2007,{{Cite web|url=https://www.topbrands.be/fr/nieuws/bakkerij-paul-opent-voor-het-eerst-een-treinstation|title=Boulangerie PAUL ouvre pour la première fois dans une gare|website=topbrands.be|access-date=3 December 2020}} 12 in Romania,{{Cite web|url=https://www.wall-street.ro/articol/Companii/281832/paul-lanseaza-doua-noi-croissante-de-inspiratie-frantuzeasca-in-editie-limitata.html|title=Paul lansează două noi croissante de inspirație franțuzească, în ediție limitată|website=wall-street.ro|date=10 February 2022 |access-date=10 February 2022}} six in Taiwan since 2008,{{Cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2008/09/16/2003423359|title=French bakery chain opens flagship store along Renai circle|website=taipeitimes.com|date=16 September 2008 |access-date=16 September 2008}} seven in Singapore since 2012, four (with one under construction) in India{{Cite web |title=About Us – Paul India |url=https://www.paul-india.com/about-us/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |language=en-US}} and over 70 in the Middle East since 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://paularabia.com/en/content/6-Our-story|title=Our story|website=paularabia.com|access-date=1 May 2022}}

In addition to French cities, it has multiple locations in other cities such as Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Beirut, Bruxelles, Bucharest, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Doha, Dubai, Johannesburg, London, Nouakchott, Prague, Rabat, Riyadh, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, and Washington.

Paul's first bakery in Pakistan was opened in Karachi in March 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://wow360.pk/paul-french-bakery-cafe-restaurant-opens-its-doors-in-the-city-of-lights-karachi/|title=Paul French Bakery, Café & Restaurant Opens its Doors in the City of Lights Karachi|website=wow360.pk|access-date=21 March 2021}} In May 2021, Paul opened its first Canadian bakery in Vancouver.{{cite web |last1=McLean |first1=Hannah |title=PAUL Vancouver: Famous French bakery now open on Robson Street |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/paul-vancouver-open |website=Daily Hive |publisher=Daily Hive |access-date=19 May 2021}}

Products include pastries, cakes, beignets, croissants, sandwiches, soups, quiches, tarts, crepes, eggs, and over 140 types of bread. They also have tea, wine, beer, mineral water, soft drinks and coffee-based drinks.

{{Portal|France|Companies|Food}}

• List of bakery cafés

{{reflist}}

• {{commonscat-inline}}
• {{official website|http://www.boulangeries-paul.com/}}

Category:Bakeries of France

Category:Bakery cafés

Category:Coffeehouses and cafés in France

Category:Fast-food chains of France

Category:French companies established in 1889

Category:Fast-food franchises

Category:Restaurants established in 1889