Bread Pit Competitors

Our first bakery-cafe opened in 1987, founded with a secret sourdough starter and the belief that the best part of bread is sharing it. That vision led to the invention of the Fast Casual category with Panera at the forefront, centered around our delicious menu of chef-curated recipes that are crafted with care by our team members. We make food that we are proud to serve our own families, from crave-worthy soups, salads and sandwiches to mac & cheese and sweets. Each recipe is filled with ingredients we feel good about and none of those we don't because we are committed to serving our guests food that feels good in the moment and long after. While our company is now more than 2,200 bakery-cafes strong, our values and belief in the lasting power of a great meal remain as strong as ever. Nothing beats breaking bread together. We believe in serving delicious, freshly prepared food made with carefully selected ingredients that we are proud to serve our own families. Our menu, crafted by chefs and bakers, features classic, comforting dishes, each with an intriguing twist. We’re also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we offer omni-channel access to your Panera favorites – like mobile ordering, catering, and Rapid Pick-Up® for to-go orders, Curbside pick-up and delivery – all designed to make things easier for our guests. Today, Panera operates as both Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co St. Louis Bread Company in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. To find a location in your area, click here. Panera Bread is privately held by JAB Holding Company. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant platforms in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels.

ABOUT: Dave’s Killer Bread is the best-selling organic bread brand in the U.S. The pioneer of organic seeded whole grain breads, its power-packed nutrition, no artificial anything, and outstanding taste and signature texture stands out, shaking up the stale bread category and dramatically outperforming the competition in both the conventional and organic bread categories. PRODUCTS: Dave’s Killer Bread offers 17 varieties of whole grain organic bakery products with widespread distribution across the U.S. and Canada. All products are Certified USDA organic and Non-GMO Project Verified with no high fructose corn syrup, artificial ingredients or preservatives. HISTORY: Founded as Nature Bake in 1955 by the Dahl family, the company assumed the name of its best-selling variety, Dave’s Killer Bread, after it was an instant hit at the Portland Farmer’s Market where it launched in 2005. The bread was named after Dave Dahl, who was welcomed back to the family bakery by his brother Glenn after 15 years in prison. Dave’s recipes and story of redemption set the bread apart; his guitar-playing likeness is featured in the company logo and on product packaging. DEEP VALUES: Dave’s Killer Bread is built on a foundation of social responsibility and a deep belief that everyone is capable of greatness – one in three of its employees has a criminal background. The company is committed to inspiring other businesses to become Second Chance employers, based on the belief that business has the power to create meaningful, lasting change. It established a foundation, Dave’s Killer Bread Foundation, to power Second Chance employment. Dave’s Killer Bread also sponsors the annual Second Chance Summit in Portland, Ore., gathering nonprofits, government officials and business to discuss the merits of employing people with criminal backgrounds, and exploring the positive impact on individuals, community and businesses. LEADERSHIP: John Tucker, CEO and President

Breadsmith specializes in handcrafted, European-style artisan breads made in the tradition of old world master bakers. Our breads and sweets are made from scratch using the highest quality ingredients and are baked in a five-ton, stone hearth oven. Founded in 1993, more than 30 neighborhood Breadsmith bakeries can be found in 14 states. Learn more online at www.breadsmith.com.