JAB Holding Company, parent company of a range of food and drink brands, has combined three of its subsidiaries — Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee, and Einstein Bros. Bagels — into Panera Brands, the combined company announced on Thursday, August 5.
The news release noted the quick growth of the fast-casual space relative to other restaurant industry categories, describing the new company as a “powerhouse platform” in the space. Indeed, a March analysis conducted by Technavio reveals that the fast-casual space will grow almost 8% each year in the next several years, rising by US$28 billion between 2021 and 2025.
As Niren Chaudhary, CEO of Panera Bread and now group CEO of Panera Brands, said in a prepared statement, “We believe Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels together will leverage each company’s unique expertise and services to build an unrivaled fast-casual platform with a tremendous runway for growth.”
The new company combines Panera Bread’s 2,156 locations, Caribou Coffee’s 713 locations across 10 countries, Einstein Bros. Bagels’ 1,005 stores total (a figure that includes Einstein Bros. Bagels-branded locations as well as Bruegger’s Bagels), Noah’s New York Bagels, and Manhattan Bagel locations. In terms of unit count, this puts the chain well ahead of other leading US-based fast-casual chains, with Chipotle totaling just over 2,800, Panda Express over 2,200, and Five Guys under 1,700.
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Judge Mehta Questions Both Sides in Landmark Google Antitrust Case
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
FCC Urges Urgent Funding for Removal of Chinese Telecom Equipment from U.S. Networks
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
Former Pioneer CEO Facing Potential Criminal Charges For Colluding With OPEC
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
South Korea’s Antitrust Regulator Greenlights K-Pop Powerhouse Deal
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
Exxon’s Pioneer Purchase Approved, Former CEO Barred from Board
May 2, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Economics of Criminal Antitrust
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Navigating Economic Expert Work in Criminal Antitrust Litigation
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
The Increased Importance of Economics in Cartel Cases
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
A Law and Economics Analysis of the Antitrust Treatment of Physician Collective Price Agreements
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI
Information Exchange In Criminal Antitrust Cases: How Economic Testimony Can Tip The Scales
Apr 19, 2024 by
CPI