News

La Madeleine sells 3 Atlanta units

August 31, 2017

La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe has completed the second phase of its refranchising program with the sale of its Atlanta restaurants this week. San Antonio-based R. Hakim Corp., led by Vice President Kyle Hakim, purchased three bakery-cafes and has committed to opening 15 additional locations in Atlanta and North Carolina, according to a company press release.

The deal comes just weeks after la Madeleine announced the purchase of 26 locations in Houston, Austin and Louisiana by HZ LM Casual Foods, with secured development rights to open 57 additional locations.

"This closing brings la Madeleine another step towards our goal to double in size within the next five years,” said Olivier Poirot, CEO of Le Duff America, which is the parent company of La Madeleine, in the release. "Our unique growth strategy allows for operators, such as Hakim, to hit the ground running with whole markets and top-performing stores."

A multi-unit franchisee for over 25 years and a la Madeleine franchisee for two years, R. Hakim Corp. operates 36 restaurants throughout the United States including three la Madeleine locations in Atlanta and Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina.

The group was recognized as "Franchisee of the Year" by IHOP in 2008.

"Growing up in San Antonio, some of my fondest memories are from frequent visits to la Madeleine with family and friends,” said Hakim. "La Madeleine has extraordinary appeal and there is not another eatery that offers the same culinary experience and industry-leading AUVs. With strong operations already in place at our current locations, we are ready to move forward with la Madeleine's expansion throughout North Carolina and the neighborhoods of Atlanta.”

La Madeleine will continue to operate corporate bakery-cafes in Dallas.

La Madeleine's parent company, Le Duff America Inc., is the Dallas-based  affiiliate of Groupe Le Duff, the world leader in the bakery-cafe segment with 35,000 employees and nearly 2,000 locations across five continents and 90 countries with annual sales topping $2 billion. Le Duff also operates French-inspired brands Mimi's Cafe and Brioche Dorée North America.

About la Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe

Dallas-based la Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe was established in 1983 by Patrick Esquerre to fulfill his dream of bringing the classic French country fare he grew up with in the Loire Valley to America. From its signature fireplace to its crave-worthy food, la Madeleine offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere where guests can enjoy French-inspired fare served throughout the day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus feature made to order entrees, sandwiches, salades and soupes, as well as freshly baked breads, artisan patisserie and more. La Madeleine currently has more than 80 corporate and franchised cafes across Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. For more information on menu items, cafe locations and hours of operation, visit www.laMadeleine.com. 

About Le Duff America Inc.

Le Duff America Inc. is owned  by Rennes, France-based Groupe Le Duff, which was founded by Louis Le Duff in 1976 and serves more than 1 million customers daily at its nearly 2,000 bakery-cafes worldwide. It operates multiple French-inspired restaurant concepts in the U.S., including Brioche Doree, la Madeleine and Mimi's Cafe, which focus on fresh ingredients, hand-prepared foods and authentic flavors.