Au Bon Pain plans Japanese expansion

January 15, 2007

BOSTON — Au Bon Pain announced it signed a master franchise agreement with Japan-based REINS International Inc. REINS' portfolio includes restaurants…

Franchisee files $12M suit against Atlanta Bread Company

January 14, 2007

Atlanta Business Journal: A year ago, Sean Lupton-Smith was one of the most successful franchisees of Atlanta Bread Company International Inc. Today…

Panera Q4 comps up 2%

January 7, 2007

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo. — Panera Bread reported a positive fourth quarter ended Dec. 26.   According to its filing, Panera's comps increased 2 percent…

Panera Bread Q4 comps up 2%

January 3, 2007

ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread Co. reported revenue increased 25 percent to $233 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 26, 2006, up from $186 million in the…

Fast Casual 2006: A year in review

Despite lawsuits and mergers, it was a good year for the fast-casual segment.

ARAMARK unveils new bakery café

December 26, 2006

PHILADELPHIA — ARAMARK Corporation recently unveiled a new urban-style bakery concept, Bleecker Street Café, to meet the demand for more fast-casual dining…

New World comps up 3.2%

December 19, 2006

GOLDEN, Colo. — New World Restaurant Group Inc., franchisor of Einstein Bros., reported a positive third quarter ended Oct. 3, 2006.   The company said…

Panera Nov. comps don't meet analyst expectations

December 5, 2006

ST LOUIS — Panera Bread Company reported positive system-wide comparable bakery-cafe sales for the five weeks ended Nov. 28, 2006.   Company-owned stores…

Panera CEO: There is no such thing as fast casual

The CEO talks about what makes Panera special and why his bakery café should not be lumped into the fast-casual segment.

Au Bon Pain to open 200 units

November 15, 2006

BOSTON — Au Bon Pain said it will add 200 units to the chain through expansion into Kuwait and Thailand.   The company has signed master franchise agreements…

Panera loses lawsuit to Qdoba over lease issue

November 14, 2006

A Massachusetts Panera Bread lost a suit to Qdoba Mexican Grill. The victory allows Qdoba to move into the same shopping mall as Panera.   For this store…

Fast Casual magazine selects Panera Bread as its brand of the year

November 14, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Fast Casual magazine announced Panera Bread has been selected No. 1 for the magazine's annual Top 100 Movers & Shakers' list.   Panera…

Panera buys 51% of Paradise Bakery for $21.1MM

November 13, 2006

St. Louis Business Journal: Panera Bread has agreed to buy 51 percent of the outstanding stock in Paradise Bakery & Café Inc., a Southwest region…

Einstein Bagels unveils holiday menu items

November 13, 2006

GOLDEN, Colo. — Einstein Bros. Bagels is introducing holiday season menu items.    According to a news release, the new foods include a candy cane bagel and…

Corner Bakery Café hires three new VPs

November 9, 2006

DALLAS — Corner Bakery Café has hired three new executives to help the 90-unit chain achieve its aggressive growth plans.   According to a news release, Ted…

Forklift Brands opens first Boudin SF in the OC

November 8, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO — Forklift Brands has announced that the company's newest venture, bakery café Boudin SF, will open its debut location in Orange County's…

Panera Bread celebrates its 1,000th bakery café

The rest of the industry is chasing us, said Panera's CEO.

Panera Bread to open its 1,000th store

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…

Panera Bread deploys NCR POS units in 100 locations

November 2, 2006

ATLANTA — NCR Corp. announced Panera Bread Co. has certified NCR as a POS hardware provider for Panera Bread bakery-cafes.   According to a news release…

Oct. comps rise 3.2% at Panera Bread Co.

November 2, 2006

ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread Co. reported system-wide comparable bakery-cafe sales increased 3.2 percent (made up of a 2.9 percent increase at company-owned units…