SPC Group Paris Croissant's Fair Trade Agreement Compliance Evaluation 4 Consecutive Years Top Excellence Secret: 'Custom Win-Win 1 Trillion KRW Execution'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] Paris Croissant, a subsidiary of SPC Group that operates the bakery franchise Paris Baguette, has received the highest rating for four consecutive years in the ‘2020 Fair Trade Agreement Implementation Evaluation.’ The secret lies in its customized win-win policies.

According to SPC Group on the 10th, Paris Croissant was recognized for strengthening the competitiveness of its franchise stores and stabilizing the management conditions of franchise owners through win-win practices with Paris Baguette franchise stores, earning the ‘highest’ rating. The ‘Fair Trade Agreement Implementation Evaluation’ is conducted annually by the Fair Trade Commission and is reflected in the ‘Win-Win Growth Index’ along with the ‘Win-Win Perception Survey.’

Over the past five years, Paris Croissant has carried out win-win activities worth about 1 trillion KRW for Paris Baguette franchise stores, including support for manufacturing staff, scholarships for franchise owners’ children and part-time workers, and marketing expenses. Recently, it additionally provided about 4.5 billion KRW to help franchise stores overcome the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Paris Croissant implements customized win-win policies covering all stages from franchise startup to operation. It supports prospective entrepreneurs through the operation of a ‘Startup Support Center’ and runs a ‘Prior Consent System’ to minimize the burden on franchise owners from promotional events. The ‘Prior Consent System’ shares details, timing, and costs of promotional events with franchise owners before implementation and proceeds only if more than 80% agree.

Since 2009, Paris Croissant has also been leading win-win efforts with franchise stores by operating the autonomous dispute resolution body called the ‘Win-Win Committee.’ Notably, the ‘Win-Win Committee’ has lawyer Park Kyung-jun, formerly of the Federation of Korean Economic Justice Practice, as a mediation commissioner, and the committee meets 3 to 4 times annually on average.

Paris Croissant's flagship brand Paris Baguette

Additionally, since 2017, the ‘PMC Meeting,’ composed of 7 to 8 franchise owners representing both the franchisor and franchisees, has been held to discuss on-site reactions to new products, analysis of store sales decline factors, quality and design improvements for products, packaging, and consumables, as well as new product ideas. Recently, former Fair Trade Commission official Seok Hong-dong was appointed as an advisory member.

Moreover, PB Partners, which operates manufacturing staff for Paris Baguette franchise stores, appointed lawyer Kim Jong-bo, formerly of the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, as an outside director in February 2018, making efforts to secure management transparency and strengthen win-win cooperation.

Paris Croissant was also selected as a ‘Model Case for Fair Trade Agreement Implementation’ by the Fair Trade Commission in December last year in recognition of these achievements.

A Paris Croissant official stated, "We will continue to actively strive to maximize win-win cooperation by preparing practical measures that will truly help franchise stores."

Meanwhile, SPC Samlip, another SPC Group subsidiary, also received the highest rating for two consecutive years in the Fair Trade Agreement Implementation Evaluation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.