Operations

Au Bon Pain reveals 'bold' prototype

Provided

September 6, 2022

Au Bon Pain has revealed a store design that promotes convenience and off-premise dining without straying from the chain's roots as a French bakery, Au Bon Pain President Ericka Garza said in a company press release.

"Enhancing the look of our locations is essential to our 'Back to Bright' campaign," she said. "We set out to build on our promise to serve delicious food in a friendly, fast and clean environment and create an exceptional guest experience. The Cafe of the Future visually represents our brand's purpose."

Au Bon Pain partnered with Rubber & Road, a San Francisco-based brand strategy and retail design firm, to create an experience that combines authenticity and playfulness without sacrificing speed or service. It includes an ordering station, a self-serve bakery as well as to-go areas.

Navigating the cafe will be intuitive with product placement and prominent wayfinding signage throughout the ordering process, while the hand-painted floor and wall signage call out the bakery's French roots. Comfortable seating indoors and out offers a sense of community and rest.

"Our new cafes give on-the-go guests what they crave and deserve — handcrafted, delicious food, fast — while offering a lovely space for guests that want to stay for a bit," Garza said. "Fun details, like a sweet bonjour at the entrance, remind guests of our legacy as a French-style bakery, to which we remain true. We appreciate our partners at Rubber & Road for creating this modern, genuine expression of Au Bon Pain."

Au Bon Pain has also signed a 10-unit deal with an existing franchisee, and by year's end will open five corporate-owned cafes and six franchise locations, including five sites and five remodels in Thailand.

Ampex Brands, a Yum Brands franchisee, purchased the chain last year.