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French-inspired bakery and café brand to grow across Kansas and Missouri, with the first location slated to open in late fall 2027
Dallas, TX (RestaurantNews.com) la Madeleine will bring its signature French-inspired fare and neighborhood café experience to the Midwest for the first time, having signed a new area development agreement for eight locations with entrepreneur Eddie Musallet of Express Stop and The Musallet Group.
The agreement brings the brand together with an experienced local development team whose portfolio spans grocery stores, convenience retail, gas stations, restaurants and other multi-unit businesses. For la Madeleine, the partnership provides an opportunity to establish a presence in a new region through an operator with established knowledge of communities in both Kansas and Missouri and experience developing customer-focused retail concepts.
“We’ve spent years building businesses in the Kansas City area, and we know how much this community values quality, convenience and places that bring people together,” said Musallet. “la Madeleine brings something unique to the market, from its French-inspired menu and fresh bakery offerings to the welcoming atmosphere of its cafés. We’re excited to introduce the brand to Kansas City and grow with it.”
The Musallet Group is a diversified, multi-unit business group with a growing portfolio of grocery, convenience retail, franchised businesses and other customer-focused operations across the Kansas City metropolitan area. With a strong track record of developing and operating businesses that serve the everyday needs of local communities, the group has established a growing presence throughout the region. Its portfolio includes nine Mercado Fresco locations and an additional 65,000-square-foot Fresh Market location currently under development at 75th Street and Quivira Road, along with convenience stores and other franchise businesses throughout the Kansas City area.
The group also owns and operates Market locations and two World Fresh Markets in Overland Park and Kansas City Northland. These approximately 40,000-square-foot international grocery stores offer customers a broad selection of fresh meat and seafood, bakery items, produce and prepared foods. Together, the group’s diverse portfolio reflects its experience in multi-unit operations, real estate development and creating retail concepts tailored to the communities they serve.
“Growth into a new market is most successful when the brand is matched with partners who understand the community and know how to build for the long term,” said Mark Ramage, senior director of franchise development and real estate for la Madeleine. “Eddie has demonstrated that expertise throughout their careers, and their experience in multi-unit retail and food-related businesses makes them an ideal fit to introduce la Madeleine to Kansas City. This agreement gives us a strong foundation for our Midwest debut and future growth in the region.”
The Kansas City agreement is part of la Madeleine’s broader franchise expansion strategy, with multi-unit developments helping the brand enter new markets while building a consistent presence across surrounding communities.
As development moves forward, the first Kansas City-area café is expected to open in late fall 2027, followed by additional locations. The cafés will offer la Madeleine’s menu of French-inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner selections, freshly baked breads and pastries, and coffee and other beverages in the brand’s signature neighborhood café setting.
For more information and a full list of la Madeleine locations, visit laMadeleine.com or visit franchising.laMadeleine.com to explore franchising opportunities.
About la Madeleine
Since 1983, la Madeleine has created a warm and welcoming bakery-café experience centered on comfort and connection. The café’s menu includes all-day breakfast, brunch, soupes, salades, sandwiches, pastas, coffees and entrées, plus a French-inspired bakery display featuring fresh bread, pastries and desserts. la Madeleine operates nearly 90 corporate and franchise locations across the U.S., including locations in airports, universities and hospitals, as well as two international cafés in Bangalore, India. Learn more at laMadeleine.com.
About Groupe Le Duff
The world leader in bakery, pastry and catering, Groupe Le Duff is present in more than 100 countries and on five continents. Since its founding in 1976, Groupe Le Duff has achieved success through its restaurant chains Brioche Dorée, Del Arte, Le Fournil de Pierre, la Madeleine (United States), and Kamps (Germany), as well as its brands Bridor and Cité Gourmande, which manufacture premium quality products for more than 45,000 restaurants and hotels worldwide.
Contact:
Tiffany Martinez
Champion
817-919-6261
tmartinez@championmgt.com