Panera Bread

Panera Bread is an American fast-casual bakery-cafe chain with over 2,000 locations in the United States and Canada. It began in 1987 as the St. Louis Bread Company, founded by Ken Rosenthal in Kirkwood, Missouri. The first cafe focused on fresh, artisan bread and a welcoming atmosphere. In 1993, Au Bon Pain, led by Ron Shaich, acquired the chain and later rebranded it as Panera in 1997, drawing the name from a Latin word for breadbasket. Panera helped define the fast-casual segment by offering quick service with a comfortable, sit-down setting and free Wi-Fi, encouraging customers to linger.

The menu centers on baked goods made on-site, including bagels, croissants, muffins, scones, and a range of artisan breads. It also offers salads, soups, sandwiches, panini, and grain bowls, alongside a full beverage lineup of coffee, espresso drinks, teas, lemonades, and smoothies. Panera emphasizes clean ingredients and has introduced programs like the Day-End Dough-Nation, donating unsold baked goods to nonprofits.

In 2017, Panera was acquired by JAB Holding Company, controlled by Germany's Reimann family, and became privately held. In 2021, it merged with Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels to form Panera Brands, creating one of the largest fast-casual restaurant platforms in the U.S. The company moved its headquarters from Sunset Hills to Fenton, Missouri, in mid-2023, reducing its office footprint by more than half. As of 2025, Paul Carbone serves as CEO. [edit]