Panera’s history and ownership
A timeline of documented events, with restaurant counts kept in their original scope.
Panera Bread and Saint Louis Bread Co.
Panera’s official company page describes cafés operating under both the Panera Bread and Saint Louis Bread Co. names. A different name on the sign does not by itself identify a separate restaurant chain. For a visit, use the café’s address, phone number, service hours and local menu.
At our September 20, 2026 review, Panera describes itself as privately held by JAB Holding Company and part of Panera Brands. Its August 2026 leadership announcement identifies Paul Carbone as chief executive. Historical public-company filings below describe the business at their stated dates.
The first bakery-café opens
Panera dates its first bakery-café to 1987. Bread remains part of its name and menu, alongside the soups, salads, sandwiches and drinks added across its development.
Saint Louis Bread Company joins Au Bon Pain
Au Bon Pain acquired Saint Louis Bread Company, then operating 19 company cafés and one franchised café. The acquisition is recorded in Panera’s fiscal 2000 filing.
The Au Bon Pain division sale closes
After agreeing a sale in 1998, the company completed the disposal of its Au Bon Pain division in May 1999. Its remaining restaurant business centered on Panera Bread and Saint Louis Bread Company cafés.
A 262-café system
The annual filing lists 90 company-operated and 172 franchised cafés across 28 states. Those figures include two specialty cafés in each ownership category.
JAB completes its acquisition
Panera’s SEC closing filing records completion of the JAB acquisition on this date. The completed transaction is distinct from the earlier announcement and agreement.
Panera Brands is announced
Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels were brought together under Panera Brands. Shared corporate ownership does not make their restaurant menus, recipes or loyalty programs interchangeable.
Paul Carbone becomes CEO
Panera announced Paul Carbone’s appointment as chief executive after he had served as interim CEO from January 2025. The company’s August 2026 leadership announcement still identifies him as CEO.
The RISE strategy is introduced
Panera’s announced plan focuses on menu changes, value, café service and network growth. These are company objectives; they do not establish that every café has already been refurbished or that a particular local service is available.
How the early café network grew
The fiscal 2000 filing preserves five year-end snapshots. Company-operated and franchised sites are separate columns; the total is their sum.
| Snapshot date | Company-operated | Franchised | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-12-28 | 53 | 11 | 64 |
| 1997-12-27 | 60 | 19 | 79 |
| 1998-12-26 | 70 | 45 | 115 |
| 1999-12-25 | 81 | 102 | 183 |
| 2000-12-30 | 90 | 172 | 262 |
The 2000 total includes four specialty bakery-cafés. These are historical company-reported counts, not a list of cafés still trading.
What the current directory count means
Our captured US directory contains 2,249 identifiable café records. It is a dated directory enumeration, not an audited worldwide company total. Canada is outside this site’s current US location dataset. A café’s absence from one refreshed source is recorded for review rather than automatically treated as a closure.
Explore cafés by state and serviceFollow the menu’s more recent changes
Browse the June 2026 nutrition archive: 580 published portions with their original serving descriptions and guide pages, kept separate from today’s menu.
The seasonal menu timeline links dated announcements to captured item servings. The kids and family guide explains the whole-sandwich kids format announced in 2024. The rewards and Sip Club guides retain the current reviewed program rules.
An announcement date is evidence of a launch, not a verified discontinuation date. Likewise, a company-wide initiative does not prove a specific café’s stock, seating layout or facilities. Those facts need a local record.
Reviewed 2026-09-20. Company filings and dated sources →