Baguette tucked under one arm, a morning croissant, the smell of warm bread as you round the street corner… It’s hard to go more than a few metres in Paris without coming across a bakery. But these establishments are more than just part of the decor: they are a landmark. Almost a cliché, perhaps, but a durable one!
The French capital is home to more than 1,200 bakeries. To put this number into perspective, there are only twenty or so McDonald’s in Paris, i.e. 60 times less. A difference that speaks volumes to Parisians’ love of bread… and their habits.
A local fabric… and visibility that extends to the Web
Behind these figures lies one simple reality: a multitude of often independent bakeries sharing a local clientele. With recipes, ambiances and techniques that differ from one street to another. Within this confined catchment area, each detail counts when it comes to standing out. Nowadays, it is not just the quality of the bread or the location that distinguish one establishment from another, it is also their online presence. The Internet is making headways into the daily lives of Parisians without disrupting their habits. People now automatically check websites for opening times and specialities or to compare prices, but still enjoy the pleasure of going to the bakery itself.
Paris’s bakeries going all in on their online presence
Some of the capital’s bakeries already have it figured out. Rather than sticking to the traditional physical shop window alone, they are combining it with an online presence:
- On the website https://www.dupain.paris, the bakery Dupain, in Paris’s 18th arrondissement, showcases a highly skilled craft, deeply rooted in France’s bread tradition, with a clear commitment to organic products and local distribution channels.
- At the foot of Montmartre, the bakery Chamboule https://www.chamboule.paris promotes a more creative approach, with a strong identity and an ambiance that immediately conjures images of Paris’s authentic neighbourhoods.
- In the 11th arrondissement, MaMi Deli bakery unveils its family recipes incorporating cosmopolitan influences on its website https://www.mami.paris, within a universe that reflects the love of food and cultural diversity of modern-day Paris.
Different approaches, but which all have one thing in common: a clear and legible address under a .paris TLD that does much more than reference a location. It reaffirms a strong tie, strengthens credibility and makes it easier for local clients to identify. And although it may seem trivial, in such a plentiful market, it can in fact make all the difference.
