# Panera Bread/Au Bon Pain: Ron Shaich

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2018-04-30
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-04-30-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich

## Summary

Ron Shaich, founder of Panera Bread and Au Bon Pain, recounts buying a struggling Boston bakery chain in the early 1980s and pivoting it into the 'fast casual' category by creating the 'third place' concept. He details the chaotic early days of production, including a disastrous attempt to dry spinach in clothes dryers, and the strategic acquisition of the St. Louis Bread Company to enter the suburban market. Shaich explains his controversial decision to sell the original Au Bon Pain business to focus entirely on Panera, a move that tripled the stock during the 2008 recession and eventually led to Panera's acquisition by JAB Holding Company to escape public market pressures.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-04-30-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich#t=0) Introduction: Ron Shaich and the Origins of Panera Bread
- [3:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-04-30-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich#t=228) Early Ventures: The Convenience Store and Cookie Jar
- [11:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-04-30-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich#t=712) Taking Over Au Bon Pain and Chaotic Production
- [18:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-04-30-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich#t=1138) Pivoting to the Bakery Cafe and Fast Casual Concept
- [23:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-04-30-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich#t=1393) Acquiring St. Louis Bread Company and Branding as Panera
- [27:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-04-30-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich#t=1621) The Strategic Pivot: Selling Au Bon Pain to Focus on Panera
- [31:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-04-30-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich#t=1915) Scaling During the Recession and Going Private
- [38:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2018-04-30-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich#t=2320) Postscript: Tyson Walters and the Shed Defender

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Au Bon Pain (company)
- Panera Bread (company)
- St. Louis Bread Company (company)
- The Cookie Jar (company)
- Pepsi (company)
- Sarah Lee (company)
- Vita France (company)
- JAB Holding Company (company)
- Shed Defender (product)
- Dodo.com (company)

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- [Founder Feature: Jenifer Shwartz of Freezcake](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-03-28-founder-feature-jenifer-shwartz-of-freezcake) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Morgan Murdock of Unbothered Foods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-05-02-founder-feature-morgan-murdock-of-unbothered-foods) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Edouardo Jordan of The Food with Roots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-03-27-founder-feature-edouardo-jordan-of-the-food-with-roots) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [350 - Beyond the Dieline - Dr Juan from PNuff Crunch joins Tom Seymour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2026-05-27-350-beyond-the-dieline-dr-juan-from-pnuff-crunch-joins-tom-seymour) (People of Packaging)

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