CJ Foodville to open bakery school in California

[Courtesy of CJ Foodville]

CJ Foodville, the operator of bakery chain Tous Les Jours and a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomerate CJ Group, will open a franchise training center in California this year, which will help further solidify its presence in North America.

According to CJ Foodville on Sunday, Tous Les Jours has experienced a surge in franchise inquiries across the United States, buoyed by the growing popularity of K-bakery products.

The brand has successfully signed up all its franchise contracts for this year early on and is already processing contracts for 2025.

Currently, Tous Les Jours operates stores in more than half of the U.S. states, including prime locations in Los Angeles, New York, and New Jersey.

CJ Foodville’s sales surpassed 100 billion won ($74 million) in North America last year, largely driven by the popularity of its bakery chain.

Tous Les Jours Cerritos in California, United States. [Cortesy of CJ Foodville]

The planned training center in California is part of CJ Foodville’s ambitious goal to reach 1,000 stores in North America by 2030.

The center will offer a sophisticated franchise education program, drawing on nearly 30 years of domestic franchise business experience.

The program will include production training for cakes, bread, and sandwiches, as well as theoretical education, POS training, and operational practices.

CJ Foodville credits its success in the U.S. market to its diverse product strategy, offering over 400 different items, unlike the limited assortments typically found in local bakeries.

The company has also responded agilely to the rising popularity of plant-based products in the U.S., launching two types of plant-based bread in June 2023, which have shown remarkable sales performance.

In response to the rapidly increasing number of franchises, CJ Foodville is accelerating the establishment of a new production facility in Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia, aimed at ensuring the swift supply of fresh products.

The new factory, set to break ground this year, represents an investment of over 50 billion won and will serve as a production hub for the North American region.

CJ Foodville aims to complete construction by the end of 2025.