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Au Bon Pain

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ABP OPCO, LLC.
Au Bon Pain
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryFast-casual restaurant, bakery, and café
Founded1976; 49 years ago (1976) in Boston
Founder
  • Louis Rapuano
  • Louis I. Kane
Headquarters
Richardson, Texas
,
United States
Number of locations
34 (2025)[1]
Area served
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Thailand
  • Taiwan
Products
  • Breakfast
  • lunch
OwnerAMPEX Brands
Websiteaubonpain.com
Former Au Bon Pain headquarters in Boston
Au Bon Pain at Siam Square in Bangkok
Au Bon Pain in the Hesburgh Library at the University of Notre Dame

ABP OPCO, LLC, doing business as Au Bon Pain, (French pronunciation: [o bɔ̃ pɛ̃], meaning "at the good bread"[2]) is an American fast casual restaurant,[3] bakery, and café chain headquartered in Richardson, Texas, which as of 2025 operated 34 locations in the United States[4] as well as several outlets in Thailand and Taiwan.[5] The company is owned by the Yum! Brands franchisee management company AMPEX Brands.[4]

Au Bon Pain serves baked goods such as bread, pastries, croissants, bagels; tea, coffee, and espresso beverages; breakfast foods such as egg sandwiches; and lunch items such as soups, salads, and sandwiches. The company also offers catering services.[6]

Most Au Bon Pain locations are on the East Coast of the United States, with franchise locations in 14 states around the country.[7]

History

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Au Bon Pain was established in 1976 at the Faneuil Hall marketplace in Boston by the French baking equipment manufacturer Pavailler.[8] Conceived as a showcase for Pavailler's ovens, the company was founded by Louis Rapuano, Pavailler, and two minor investors, with Pavailler providing the baking machinery. Its early locations sold croissants, pastries, and bread made by French bakers, and by 1977, Au Bon Pain had opened additional stores in Hackensack, New Jersey, and New York City.[9]

In 1978, venture capitalist Louis I. Kane acquired the company for US$1.5 million (equivalent to US$7.2 million in 2024), after being drawn in by the smell of its baked goods.[5] Kane shifted the brand's focus from selling ovens to baked products directly to customers. Francois Marin was hired to open and manage the first Au Bon Pain café in Boston's Quincy Market.[10]

By 1980, Au Bon Pain's sales had surpassed US$1 million (equivalent to US$3.8 million in 2024), though the company remained unprofitable.[11][12] Facing financial difficulties, Au Bon Pain was nearing bankruptcy in 1981, when Ronald M. Shaich and his father acquired a 60 percent stake, setting it on a new course.[12]

The company went public in 1991 through an initial public offering.[13] Two years later, it purchased the Saint Louis Bread Company, the precursor to Panera Bread, for US$23 million (equivalent to US$50.1 million in 2024),[12][13][14] and acquired the U.S. bakery locations of Warburtons, which were converted into Au Bon Pain cafés.[15]

The mid-1990s brought mixed fortunes: after reporting losses in 1996, the company announced plans to upgrade its store interiors,[16] and in 1997, it explored options to expand to Peru.[17]

In 1999, Au Bon Pain Co. Inc.—later renamed Panera Bread—sold its Au Bon Pain division to Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., and the following year, Compass Group acquired it.[18] That same year, the company signed a franchise agreement with Gourmet Coffee Co. Ltd. to open its first cafés in Taipei, Taiwan.[19]

One of its stores operated in the underground mall of the World Trade Center in New York City until it was destroyed in the September 11 attacks.[20]

In 2005, Au Bon Pain's management, together with PNC Financial Services, purchased a 75 percent share of the company from Compass, which retained the remaining 25 percent.[21] Three years later, LNK Partners acquired a controlling interest.[22]

During the 2010s, Au Bon Pain launched a nationwide remodeling program,[23] expanded to more than 200 locations,[24] and committed to sourcing only free-range eggs by 2017.[25] Under CEO Sue Morelli, it was recognized as one of Massachusetts' top female-led companies in 2014,[26] and in 2015, the company named Katherine See its executive chef.[27] Morelli retired in 2016 and was succeeded by Ray Blanchette.[28]

On November 8, 2017, Panera Bread announced its acquisition of Au Bon Pain, reuniting the two brands after nearly two decades apart.[13][29][30][31] Following the deal, founder Ron Shaich stepped down as Panera's CEO and was succeeded by Blaine Hurst.[32]

After years of declining urban foot traffic, the chain closed its final Cambridge, Massachusetts café in 2019,[33] and in 2021, the company was sold again—this time to AMPEX Brands, which acquired roughly $60 million in assets and franchise rights for 131 additional locations.[34][35] AMPEX moved the headquarters from Boston to Texas.[36][37]

The COVID-19 pandemic caused further closures, reducing the U.S. store count to 123, though new openings began under AMPEX's ownership, including one in Queens Center Mall in New York City.[24] The last remaining Boston location, at South Station, closed in 2024.[38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "All Locations | Au Bon Pain". Au Bon Pain. Archived from the original on April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  2. ^ King, Christina B (March 14, 2013) [1992-06-24]. "AU BON PAIN Trademark of ABP OPCO LLC – Registration Number 1757444 – Serial Number 74287859 : Justia Trademarks". Justia. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  3. ^ Romeo, Peter (October 2, 2018). "Ray Blanchette has another new job—this time as TGI Fridays CEO". Restaurantbusinessonline.com. Informa Connect. Retrieved July 16, 2025. with the exception of a stint as CEO of the Au Bon Pain fast-casual chain
  4. ^ a b Maze, Jonathan (May 29, 2025). "Some interesting restaurant chains dropped off the Top 500 this year". Restaurantbusinessonline.com. Informa Connect. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "About Us | Au Bon Pain". Au Bon Pain. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  6. ^ "Catering | Au Bon Pain". Au Bon Pain. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  7. ^ "All Locations | Au Bon Pain". Au Bon Pain. Archived from the original on February 17, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  8. ^ "Bakery and pastry ovens – Pavailler". Pavailler. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  9. ^ McNiff, Veronica (September 19, 1977). "Bakery: Au Bon Pain". Architecture: Tomorrowland Today. New York. Vol. 10, no. 38. ISSN 0028-7369. OCLC 50754475. Retrieved January 6, 2020 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Kolnos, Jason (February 29, 2004). "Serving up fun: Francois Marin, retired founder of Au Bon Pain chain turns attention to volleyball league for seniors". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  11. ^ Stewart, Brandi (December 7, 2007). "Pastry parlay: From Au Bon Pain to Panera; How Panera Bread founder Ron Shaich sold his first business to build his second". CNN. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c Kowitt, Beth (July 17, 2012). "A founder's bold gamble on Panera". Fortune. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  13. ^ a b c Panera Bread (November 8, 2017). "Panera Bread Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Au Bon Pain". Globe Newswire (Press release). Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  14. ^ Deagon, Brian (January 25, 2010). "Panera's Ron Shaich Really Rolls in the Dough" (PDF). Investors.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  15. ^ "Au Bon Pain bakery cafes take over Warburtons restaurants". United Press International. Pittsburgh. January 25, 1993. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  16. ^ "Au Bon Pain Stock Drops 11% on News That Loss Is Expected". The Wall Street Journal. Boston. October 7, 1996. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  17. ^ "U.S. Bakery Chain Au Bon Pain May Open Operations in Peru". Lima: The Wall Street Journal. Associated Press. October 12, 1997. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  18. ^ Goodison, Donna L. (December 4, 2000). "Au Bon Pain acquisition may be near". Boston Business Journal. ISSN 1943-6343. Archived from the original on February 15, 2006. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  19. ^ Goodison, Donna L. (April 3, 2000). "Au Bon Pain to serve its concept in Taiwan's capital city". Boston Business Journal. ISSN 1943-6343. Archived from the original on December 18, 2002. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  20. ^ "Port Authority: World Trade Center". Archived from the original on April 21, 2001.
  21. ^ Stempel, Jonathan; Dorfman, Brad (January 16, 2008). "LNK to buy majority stake in Au Bon Pain". Reuters. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  22. ^ "Au Bon Pain Acquisition by LNK Partners and Management Closes". American Banker (Press release). Boston and White Plains, New York. PR Newswire. March 5, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  23. ^ "Au Bon Pain Launches Cafe Remodel Program as Part of National Expansion Strategy; Transforms New York City Cafes". PR Newswire (Press release). June 8, 2011. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  24. ^ a b Maze, Jonathan (June 24, 2022). "Au Bon Pain begins adding locations again". Restaurant News. Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  25. ^ "Au Bon Pain Continues Shift to Eggs from Cage-Free Hens; Commits to 100% Gestation Crate–Free for Pork". Business Wire (Press release). Boston. January 21, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  26. ^ "2014 Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts". The Boston Globe. October 25, 2014. ISSN 0743-1791. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  27. ^ Thorn, Bret (January 16, 2015). "Au Bon Pain names new corporate executive chef". Nation's Restaurant News. ISSN 0028-0518. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  28. ^ "Au Bon Pain Appoints Ray Blanchette as President and CEO" (Press release). Boston: PRWeb. June 24, 2016. Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  29. ^ Jargon, Julie (November 8, 2017). "Panera Bread Founder Ron Shaich to Step Down as CEO". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  30. ^ Harris, David L. (November 8, 2017). "Panera will buy Au Bon Pain to gain bigger slice of bakery-cafe market". Boston Business Journal. ISSN 1943-6343. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  31. ^ Meyer, Zlati (November 8, 2017). "What's buzzing at Panera? It's buying Au Bon Pain and the CEO is resigning". USA Today. ISSN 2165-1779. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  32. ^ Hsu, Tiffany (November 8, 2017). "Panera Bread Buys Au Bon Pain, Adding to JAB's Breakfast Empire". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  33. ^ Levy, Marc (December 16, 2019). "Final Cambridge Au Bon Pain closes Tuesday, wrapping up 35 years in former flagship city". Cambridge Day. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  34. ^ Haddon, Heather (June 30, 2021). "WSJ News Exclusive | Au Bon Pain Bought by Restaurant Franchisee Ampex". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  35. ^ Rosen, Andy. "Boston stalwart Au Bon Pain sold, again". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  36. ^ Welker, Grant (June 30, 2021). "Au Bon Pain bought by Texas franchisee". Boston Business Journal. ISSN 1943-6343. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  37. ^ Lucas, Amelia (June 30, 2021). "7-Eleven and Yum Brands franchisee buys bakery-cafe chain Au Bon Pain". CNBC. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  38. ^ Umholtz, Katelyn (January 9, 2024). "Au Bon Pain in South Station closes, reportedly the last Boston location of the cafe chain". Boston.com. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
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