The Springfield, Mo.-based franchise group Hamra Enterprises has acquired 24 Panera Bread café units from franchise group CSC Investments, the company said Wednesday.
The two dozen locations sold by CSC Investments include units in Alabama (2), Georgia (2), Tennessee (10) and Louisiana (10). Mike Hamra, president and CEO of Hamra Enterprises, said in a statement that the more than 800 employees of CSC would be joining the Hamra team, which will now total more than 7,400 employees across 195 restaurants in 11 states.
“Thanks to a quality team dedicated to guest service and excellence, Hamra Enterprises has experienced phenomenal growth over the past year, which has enabled us to grow our family and the communities we serve,” said Hamra in a statement. “We are excited to be adding another 24 locations that were developed by another great Panera Bread owner who has been a Panera Bread franchisee for 24 years, and I am excited to have the employees of CSC join our team and looking forward to supporting them in their business to serve guests and the communities they do business in.”
Hamra Enterprises already owned and operated 66 Panera locations, so the acquisition brings the franchise operator’s total bakery-café count to 90 units. The franchisee also operates 98 Wendy’s restaurants and seven units of Noodles & Company.
Earlier this year, the company also agreed to open 24 Caribou Coffee locations in Missouri. The group is also planning to open two new Wendy’s units there this year.
Dan Cooke, president of CSC Investments, predicted an easy transition for the restaurants.
“We have an environment at CSC Investments where dignity and respect for our teams has been the cornerstone of our core beliefs and Hamra Enterprises has an equally impressive ‘people first’ culture that aligns with what we created in our organization so it’s an amazing fit and easy transition for our teams to join Hamra Enterprises,” he said in a statement.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.