Two examples last week: Jollibee Foods Corp. bought a 47% stake in Chicago-based chef and restaurateur Rick Bayless’ Tortas Frontera fast-casual brand. And Paris Baguette USA, the American unit of Korea’s SPC Group, hired the former chief development officer for Le Pain Quotidien to serve a similar role for their U.S. expansion efforts. NRN Jollibee-TortasFrontera; NRN Paris Baguette.
Many Asian restaurant companies are targeting the North American market. It’s where the money is.
