News

Top 100: Au Bon Pain No. 10

February 17, 2012

10. Au Bon Pain

Boston / No. of units: 250+

Throughout the past several years, the bakery-café segment has been a leader in the fast casual category’s growth, contributing an estimated $4.3 billion in total 2008 sales to the segment. One brand that has benefited from the increased exposure is Au Bon Pain, which raked in $307 million in sales last year, up 6.8 percent from the year before. Au Bon Pain is anchored by a strong East Coast presence and has more than 250 units around the world, including international locations in South Korea, Taiwan, Kuwait, Japan and Thailand. The chain also has a large footprint in nontraditional areas such as transportation centers, hotels, shopping malls, office buildings, hospitals and universities.

Au Bon Pain’s setup mirrors a marketplace atmosphere, where guests can personally select fresh menu choices from individual stations. Its menu items include coffees and teas, baked goods, salads, hot and café sandwiches, wraps, snacks and more. The company also touts an extensive soup line, from tomato basil bisque to Thai coconut curry. It’s the chain’s artisanal breads, however, that provided the impetus behind its existence.