[THE INVESTOR] SPC Group has opened its first Paris Baguette chain in Chengdu, located in the southwest area of China that encompasses provinces such as Sichuan.

The area has recently been experiencing a development boom on the latest Chinese government policies.

Chengdu is the provincial capital of Sichuan, and is the fourth most populated city in China with 14 million people, according to SPC.

The group said it plans to open more shops in Chengdu, and also will expand to other nearby areas such as Chongqing, which is a major city in southwest China and one of the five national central cities.

With these additions, SPC plans to open up to 80 stores in western and inland China by 2020.

SPC operates Korea’s largest bakery chain -- Paris Baguette -- under the helm of chairman and CEO Hur Young-in, the son of group founder Hur Chang-sung.

At the group’s New Year’s event, Chairman Huh called on SPC employees to draw on its past expertise to help build a stronger foundation overseas.

“This is the year we build an unshakeable franchise business in China and the US,” Hur told the group on Jan. 4.

By Kim Ji-hyun (jemmie@heraldcorp.com">jemmie@heraldcorp.com)