Edit

Panera Bread

Operations

Panera eyes new tap-and-go setup for coffee sales

The chain will test new technology to streamline a.m. service, part of a larger push to provide more convenience and higher-quality items.

Leadership

Panera’s parent voluntarily owns up to its Nazi past

The family controlling JAB Holding Co. acknowledges that an earlier version of the company used slave labor during World War II and that two predecessors were guilty of unprosecuted war crimes.

Topics

Relations sour between Panera and Ron Shaich

By Peter Romeo on Feb. 21, 2019

Shaich’s new investment firm is suing the bakery-cafe chain over a recruitment agreement.

Operations

Panera’s pay-what-you-can experiment ends

By Heather Lalley on Feb. 05, 2019

The soup and sandwich chain plans to close its last Panera Cares store, saying it “is no longer viable.”

Leadership

Panera Bread makes 2 C-suite appointments

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 15, 2019

Former Sweetgreen President Karen Kelley was named chief restaurant officer and Sonic veteran Anita Vanderveer was appointed chief people officer.

Operations

The top 9 restaurant trends of 2018

By Peter Romeo on Dec. 18, 2018

A challenging year brought fundamental shifts in the market and a white-elephant sale of troubled concepts.

Consumer Trends

Panera, Cinnabon, Applebee’s aim for new delivery occasions

By Peter Romeo on Nov. 15, 2018

With so many restaurants offering delivery, how does a brand stand out? Here are three newly announced attempts.

Financing

How Wall Street is hurting restaurants

By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 13, 2018

Public markets discourage long-term investments. Here’s how Panera Bread founder Ron Shaich would fix it, says RB’s The Bottom Line.

Leadership

The challenges of stepping up in the family business

By Peter Romeo on Oct. 23, 2018

Tim Doherty was named the president and COO in May of the restaurant company his father started and built into one of the industry’s largest franchise operations. Like a lot of second-generation leaders of a family business, he found the job has its own set of challenges and joys.

Workforce

Applebee’s, Panera Bread and more vow to erase ‘no-poach’ franchise contracts

By Heather Lalley on Aug. 21, 2018

They join seven major chains that agreed last month to stop the practice, under threat of a lawsuit.