Au Bon Pain (French pronunciation: [o b?? p??], meaning "at (or to) the Good Bread") is an American fast-casual bakery and café chain headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1977, Louis Rapuano founded Au Bon Pain in Boston's Faneuil Hall. Since its inception, the chain has expanded throughout the United States. Additionally, there are numerous franchise locations internationally in India and Thailand. On November 8, 2017, Panera Bread announced it would be acquiring Au Bon Pain, which had split off from Panera in 1999 after being created in 1981.
Video Au Bon Pain
History
1977-2000
Pavailler, a French baking equipment manufacturer, established the company as a showcase for its ovens in 1976 at Boston's Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The principals included Rapuano, Pavailler Machinery, and two minor investors. Pavailler contributed baking machinery to the venture. Au Bon Pain sold authentic croissants, pastries, and bread produced by French bakers. The name Au Bon Pain loosely translates to "place for good bread." After its opening in Boston, it expanded to Hackensack, New Jersey, and New York
In 1978, Au Bon Pain was purchased for $1.5 million, and the business model was changed to sell baked goods instead of ovens. Francois Marin was hired to open and manage the first Au Bon Pain in Boston's Quincy Market adjoining Faneuil Hall by the businessman who owned Au Bon Pain in name only, but didn't have a store opened yet. The deal was consummated in Paris. Up to this time Au Bon Pain's corporate parent company was named Pavco; after the buyout its name was changed to Au Bon Pain Corporation.
By 1980, Au Bon Pain had over $1 million in sales, but was still unable to make a profit.In 1984, an Au Bon Pain cafe outside of Boston opened in New York City. In 1991, the company went public as Au Bon Pain Co. Inc. In 1999, Au Bon Pain Co. Inc. (later renamed Panera Bread Company) sold its Au Bon Pain division to Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., which then sold it to Compass Group in 2000.
2001-present
Following a management buyout in 2005, private equity group LNK Partners acquired a controlling interest in Au Bon Pain in 2008.
According to Hoovers.com, in 2005, Au Bon Pain management purchased 75 percent of the company while the Compass Group retained the remaining 25 percent. In 2014, under the leadership of then President and CEO Sue Morelli, Au Bon Pain was named one of the top women-led businesses in Massachusetts by the Boston Globe and the Commonwealth Institute (Boston).
In June 2016, Morelli retired and former Ray Blanchette was named President and CEO. On November 8, 2017, Panera Bread announced it would be acquiring Au Bon Pain, which had split off from Panera in 1999 after being created in 1981.
Maps Au Bon Pain
Locations
As of 2014, there were 243 cafés in the United States, including 135 company-owned locations and 108 franchise locations, along with many international locations in India and Thailand. Most of the locations in the Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic States, and Chicago Metropolitan Area are company-owned, while international locations, such as the locations featured in Macy's and Walmart, are typically franchised. Detroit, Boston, New York City, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Chicago are all home to numerous Au Bon Pain locations. Many Au Bon Pain cafés have been established throughout the United States in numerous airports, train stations, shopping centers, hospitals, urban business districts in cities, and universities.
In addition to retail cafes, Au Bon Pain also runs a catering division which is done mostly out of their main restaurant locations during their off hours.
Food
Au Bon Pain focuses on serving baked goods (focusing on fresh-baked bread, pastries, croissants, and bagels), tea, coffee and espresso beverages, breakfast foods (such as egg sandwiches), and lunch items such as soup, salads, and sandwiches. In recent years, the chain has undergone a brand identity upgrade that has incorporated new colors, design, and imagery. In 2014, Au Bon Pain hired Katherine See as Executive Chef.
In 2015, Au Bon Pain was ranked the healthiest United States chain restaurant by Grellin Grade. Au Bon Pain has also been recognized by Eat This, Not That for "an unrivaled standard of nutritional transparency".
See also
- List of coffeehouse chains
- List of bakery cafés
References
External links
- Official website
- Au Bon Pain History
- Au Bon Pain nutrition kiosks
- Au Bon Pain recognized for nutrition kiosks
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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