Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Asian-style bakery café chain, Saint Germain Bakery continues to expand its presence in Canada’s multicultural retail markets. The chain is currently preparing to open its first location in Alberta in October, a 3650 square foot location on level one of the CF Chinook Centre in Calgary. Blending Hong Kong and Franch baking techniques, the Fairchild Group business conglomerate introduced the Asian-inspired bakery on Crombie St in Vancouver in 1986 with its wide selection of freshly baked Asian and European-style breads, pastries, cakes, cookies, buns, sandwiches, seasonal specialties, and premium desserts, complemented by beverages and gift items. In the mid-2000s, Mickey Zhao and Anne Zhao acquired the company and presently there are seven locations in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland region and nine in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario. Saint Germain Bakery focuses on high-traffic shopping centres, regional malls, and prominent urban retail nodes with strong pedestrian activity and excellent visibility. Typical locations range from approximately 800 to 2,000 square feet, although larger formats may be considered where café seating is incorporated. Saint Germain Bakery is particularly interested in centres anchored by major supermarkets, Asian grocers, and complementary food retailers. The chain targets densely populated neighbourhoods with significant Asian demographics, ample parking, convenient transit access, and strong household incomes to support sustained sales growth. The company is now exploring potential business partnership opportunities in markets including Montreal, Ottawa, Alberta and the US.
Saint Germain Bakery, Unit 1428, 1451 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, British Columbia V6X 4J7 (604/276-8378 www.saintgermainbakery.com)