Au Bon Pain

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Au Bon Pain
Industry Fast-casual bakery and café restaurant
Founded 1978 in Boston, United States of America
Founder Louis Kane
Area served
 United States, India, Thailand
Key people
 Susan Morelli, President and CEO
Owner LNK Partners and management
Website AuBonPain.com
Au Bon Pain at Siam Square in Siam, Bangkok

Au Bon Pain (French pronunciation: ​[o bɔ̃ pɛ̃], meaning "With the Good Bread"[1]) is a fast-casual bakery and café chain headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.[2] In 1978, Louis Kane founded the first Au Bon Pain in Boston. Since its inception, the chain has expanded throughout the United States. Additionally, there are numerous franchise locations internationally in India[3] and Thailand.[4]

History

In 1984, the first 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. sold its Au Bon Pain division to Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co., which then sold it to Compass Group in 2000.[5] Following a management buyout in 2005, private equity group LNK Partners acquired a controlling interest in Au Bon Pain in 2008.[6]

Susan Morelli is the President and CEO of Au Bon Pain. In 2014, under Morelli's leadership, Au Bon Pain was named one of the top women-led businesses in Massachusetts by the Boston Globe and the Commonwealth Institute (Boston).[7]

Locations

125 West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan, with Au Bon Pain

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.[8]

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.[9]

In 2015, Au Bon Pain was ranked the healthiest United States chain restaurant by Grellin Grade.[10] Au Bon Pain has also been recognized by Eat This, Not That for "an unrivaled standard of nutritional transparency".[11]

See also

References

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External links

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