Panera Bread 915309 226129897 2008-07-16T23:13:04Z Tavix 3188090 {{Infobox_Company | company_name = Panera Bread | company_logo = [[Image:PaneraLogo.png|200px]] | company_type = Public ({{nasdaq|PNRA}}) | company_slogan = ''A loaf of bread in every arm'' | foundation = [[1987]] in [[Kirkwood, Missouri]]| location = [[Richmond Heights, Missouri]], [[United States]]<ref name=PressKit>{{cite web |url=http://www.panerabread.com/about/press/kit |title=Panera Bread Press Kit |accessdate=2007-09-27 |publisher=Panera Bread}}</ref> | key_people = Ken Rosenthal, founder<br>Ronald M. Shaich, founder, chairman, and CEO<br>Louis Kane, founder<ref name=PressKit /> | industry = [[Restaurants]] | num_employees = 4,746 full time (December [[2005]]) | revenue = [[Image:green up.png]]$597.09 million [[United States dollar|USD]] ([[2005]]) | products = [[Fast casual restaurant|Fast casual]]/[[Bakery]]-[[café]], including several varieties of [[bread]], such as [[bagel]]s and [[muffin]]s, cold [[sandwich]]es, hot [[Panini (sandwich)|panini]], [[salad]]s, [[soup]]s, and [[pizza]]s | homepage = [http://www.panerabread.com/ www.panerabread.com] }} '''Panera Bread''' (in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], '''St. Louis Bread Company'''), is a [[franchising|chain]] of [[bakery]]-[[café]] restaurants in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] which sell [[bread]]s, sandwiches, soups, and bakery items; some locations offer dinner pizzas. Panera is considered a "[[Fast_casual_restaurant#Fast_casual-dining_restaurants|fast casual]]" restaurant. ==Corporate history== In 1993, [[Au Bon Pain]] Co. purchased the Saint Louis Bread Company, which was founded by Ken Rosenthal. At the same time, the St. Louis Bread Company was renovating its 20 bakery-cafés in the [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] area.<ref name=About>{{cite web |url=http://www.panerabread.com/about/company/history.php |title=Our History |accessdate=2008-01-30 |publisher=Panera Bread}}</ref> In May 1999, to expand Panera Bread into a national chain, Au Bon Pain Co. sold its other chains, including Au Bon Pain, which is now owned by [[Compass Group|Compass Group North America]].<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_5_39/ai_n9523112 Au Bon Pain: bakery-cafe weighs in on diet fads, offers more healthful fare to concerned customers] ''Nation's Restaurant News'', January 31, 2005.</ref> Au Bon Pain Co. then renamed itself Panera Bread. The company operates or franchises more than 1,160 Panera Bread bakery-cafés in 40 states<ref name=About /> and 17 manufacturing plants to support the bakery-cafés. Panera Bread's CEO is Ron Shaich. In its headquarters city of [[St. Louis]], Panera Bread still operates under the name St. Louis Bread Company. The metropolitan St. Louis area has over 50 locations. Panera Bread plans to expand into [[Canada]], beginning with [[Toronto]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite news |first=Carylyn |last=Walkup |title=Panera Bread to launch dinner menu, push toward 1,000 units |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_25_40/ai_n16497944 |work=Nation's Restaurant News |date=[[2006-06-19]] |accessdate=2008-03-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Lisa R |last=Brown |title=Panera Bread headquarters in play |url=http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2007/10/29/story1.html |work=St. Louis Business Journal |date=[[2007-10-26]] |accessdate=2008-03-03 }}</ref> ==Menu== The restaurant sells several types of bread, including loaves, [[bagel]]s, and [[Bread roll|rolls]]. Sweeter bakery items such as [[muffin]]s, [[cookies]], [[croissant]]s, [[Danish pastry|Danish]] and other [[pastries]] are also offered. Drinks include [[Republic of Tea]] hot teas, iced tea, self service [[coffee urn]]s (one each of [[hazelnut]], Featured Blend, Cafe Blend and [[decaf]]), several [[espresso]]-based beverages, self-service [[fountain soda]], and bottled [[Jones Soda]]s. Panera had an exclusive distribution deal to sell an early version of Jones' then-new [[chocolate]]-flavored soda.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} [[Image:Panera Shakopee 2007.JPG|right|thumb|225px|Panera Bread in [[Shakopee, Minnesota|Shakopee, MN]]]] Panera also sells premade cold [[sandwich]]es, hot [[Panino|panini]]-pressed sandwiches, and [[salad]]s. The restaurant sells four to six kinds of [[soup]]s &ndash; including [[French onion soup|French onion]], broccoli cheddar, chicken noodle &ndash; and two seasonal soups, including at least one [[vegetarian]] selection. The soups are made by an outside supplier, but are formulated by and exclusive to Panera. All of Panera's sauces, dressings, and spreads are also formulated by and are exclusive to Panera Bread. They have a house brand of [[organic food|organic]] [[potato chips]], which replaced the [[Jays_Foods#Products|Krunchers!]] chips that were formerly served. Some Panera restaurants serve "Crispani" Pizza, an oval-shaped thin-crust [[gourmet]] [[pizza]], after 4:00 p.m. However, many locations have discontinued it.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} [[Image:Chicago panera bread.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Panera Bread in [[Chicago]]'s [[Chicago Loop|South Loop]].]] Some Panera locations sell breakfast sandwiches. The sandwiches are made with egg, cheese, and meat. The eggs are cooked using a combination of "shearing" and frying the eggs.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} The sandwiches themselves can be cooked on a store's panini press. Parts of the menu are rotated, with [[season]]al items five times a year, and about two new salads and/or sandwiches at any given time. Bagels and seasonal breads are also rotated regularly. Bread dough is mixed at a central facility and shipped to each restaurant to be baked as needed. ==Internet access== Most locations offer free wireless Internet ([[Wi-Fi]]) access to customers. Panera operates the largest free wireless network in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |first=Anthony |last=Zumpano |title=Panera Bread: flour power |url=http://www.brandchannel.com/features_profile.asp?pr_id=307 |work=features |publisher=brandchannel |date=[[2006-10-23]] |accessdate=2007-11-26 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Terrence |last=Nowlin |title=Plugging into wireless: wireless Internet is making its way into more parks nationwide |url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-6072684/Plugging-into-wireless-wireless-Internet.html |work=Parks & Recreation |publisher=National Recreation and Park Association |date=[[2006-11-01]] |accessdate=2007-11-26 }}</ref> This service includes [[SonicWALL]] Internet filtering, which queries a central database before blocking or allowing access by category; the filter has been known to incorrectly categorize sites.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.computers-onsale.com/sonicwall_64022.htm |title=SonicWall at Computers OnSale |accessdate=2007-10-25 |publisher=Computers OnSale }}</ref> ==See also== *[[Hotspot (Wi-Fi)|Hotspot]] *[[The Third Place]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.panerabread.com Official website] *[http://www.panerabread.com/about/company/history.php Panera Bread corporate history] [[Category:Bakeries of the United States]] [[Category:Bakery/café restaurants]] [[Category:Companies based in St. Louis, Missouri]] [[Category:Companies listed on NASDAQ]] [[Category:Fast casual restaurants]] [[Category:Franchises]] [[Category:St. Louis Food]]