# Panera Bread/Au Bon Pain: Ron Shaich (2018)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-02-10
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-10-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich-2018

## Summary

Ron Shaich, founder of Panera Bread and Au Bon Pain, explains how he built a fast-casual empire by pivoting from a small Boston bakery to a national chain. He details the chaotic early days of Au Bon Pain, the strategic acquisition of the St. Louis Bread Company to enter the suburban market, and the controversial decision to sell the original brand to focus entirely on Panera. Shaich also discusses his contrarian growth strategy during the 2008 financial crisis and the rationale behind taking the company private to escape short-term Wall Street pressures.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-10-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich-2018#t=0) Introduction: Ron Shaich and the Origins of Panera Bread
- [4:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-10-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich-2018#t=264) From Politics to Retail: The Cookie Jar and Au Bon Pain
- [14:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-10-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich-2018#t=860) Chaotic Operations: Clothes Dryers and Electrical Fires
- [19:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-10-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich-2018#t=1174) The Fast-Casual Pivot: Creating the Bakery Cafe
- [23:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-10-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich-2018#t=1427) Acquiring St. Louis Bread Company and Naming Panera
- [28:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-10-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich-2018#t=1726) The Boardroom Battle: Selling Au Bon Pain to Focus on Panera
- [32:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-10-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich-2018#t=1946) Contrarian Growth: Expanding During the 2008 Recession
- [35:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-10-panera-bread-au-bon-pain-ron-shaich-2018#t=2126) Taking Panera Private and Stepping Down as CEO

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up, established companies

## Mentioned

- Panera Bread (company)
- Au Bon Pain (company)
- St. Louis Bread Company (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Can Do Labels (product)
- Lisa Dalton (other)

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