Panera Bread to open its 1,000th store

Panera Bread to open its 1,000th store
Tags: Bakery Cafe, Franchising & Growth
November 6, 2006

Panera Bread Company will open its 1,000th Panera Bread bakery-cafe today. Panera executives, franchisees and media will attend an opening celebration in Oak Brook, Ill., a Chicago suburb.

The new bakery-café will be open to the public on Nov. 16. Ron Shaich, Panera Bread chairman and chief executive, said the 1,000^th store opening is a special event.

"This is a milestone that feels particularly significant on the back of Panera being cited by the Wall Street Journal as an industry-leading performer over the last 10 years, and as we continue to demonstrate the power of our concept through some of the highest volumes in the industry," Shaich said.