Bakery

Au Bon Pain Corporate Office

Au Bon Pain was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1977 by Louis Rapuano. The company operates a chain of bakery/cafe’s which feature foods cooked with freshly made baked goods made at the restaurant. The name is French and roughly means “a place for good bread”.

The first location was in Boston’s Fanieul Hall and it featured a bakery with glass walls so customers could see their baked goods being made, a revolutionary concept in 1977. The company focus is on fresh baked goods, including croissants, bagels, pastries, and bread. In 2014, the company hired chef Katherine See as their head chef. The company is owned by LNK Management, a private equity firm, who acquired it in 2008.

As of 2014, the company had 243 locations, with 108 of these being franchised, as well as numerous locations in other countries, including India and Thailand. Most restaurants are found in hospitals, airports, shopping centers, and universities.

Au Bon Pain

History

Bliss Cupcake Cafe Corporate Office

Bliss Cupcake Cafe was founded in 2009 in Lafayette, Arkansas. The original owner, Shelly Cassar, wanted to do something completely different with a bakery. Since breads, bagels, and donuts could be found anywhere, she decided to try using an old fashioned recipe to make cupcakes. Husband and wife team Flint and Rebekah Harris purchased the operation from Cassar in 2011.

The company operates a chain of bakeries which specialize in cupcakes. Franchise operations began in 2010. Today, there are 5 locations throughout the greater Lafayette area, three store owned and two franchises. Depending on the season, the company makes between 9 and 12 flavors every day using 50 old fashioned recipes. The only flavors that remain consistent are Red Velvet and Chocolate Milkshake.

All cupcakes are made and baked in a common location, then transported to the various stores. The company recently introduced gluten free cupcakes, which have become a popular choice even for those who don’t need to follow a gluten free diet.

Bliss Cupcake Cafe

History

Corner Bakery Cafe Corporate Office

Corner Bakery Cafe was founded in 1991. The company operates a chain of casual dining restaurants which typically serve better quality food than fast food restaurants, but have limited table service. The company began franchising operations in the mid-1990s.

Today, the company is owned by CBC Restaurant Corp, whose current CEO Frank Paci, has more than 25 years of food service experience. The company currently has more than 192 locations in 11 states. In November of 2015, the company made a deal with Walmart to be their exclusive dining outlet at all Walmart Supercenters. All current outlets will be remodeled and rebranded with the Corner Bakery Cafe logo. The transition was expected to begin in August 2016.

Corner Bakery Cafe has recently begun aggressive expansion plans, with new locations opening in Bozeman, Montana, Rhode Island, and Louisiana in late 2016.

In February 2023, Corner Bakery Cafe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Corner Bakery Cafe maintains a corporate office in Dallas, Texas.

Corner Bakery Cafe

History

Corner Bakery Cafe has recently begun aggressive expansion plans, with new locations opening in Bozeman, Montana, Rhode Island, and Louisiana in late 2016.

In February 2023, Corner Bakery Cafe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Corner Bakery Cafe maintains a corporate office in Dallas, Texas.

Atlanta Bread Company Corporate Office

Atlanta Bread Company was founded in 1993, when brothers, Jerry and Basil Couvaras purchased a Sandy Springs Sandwich shop. The company began franchise operations the following year. The company operates a chain of sandwich and bakery shops in the US.

The company grew very quickly and by 2006 had more than 232 franchises, as well as corporate owned locations. The Couvaras brothers were charged with fraud in South Africa in 2004 and paid more than $5.5 million in fines, but avoided jail time. The company suffered as a result, with most small business administration loans going into default. The company ranked #11 on the SBA’s list of 25 Worst Franchises.

CEO Jerry Couvaras states that the company is back on track, however, and growing once more, but this time, more slowly. Today the company has about 50 locations, but they are hiring once more and making plans to re-open some of their former locations in 2017.

Atlanta Bread Company

History

Shipley Do-Nuts Corporate Office

Shipley Do-Nuts was founded in 1936 by Lawrence Shipley, in Houston, Texas. Shipley spent a great deal of time perfecting what he believed was the perfect donut. The original price for a dozen donuts was 5 cents. By the 1940’s, the donuts had become to popular that the company began selling them in retail locations.

Today, Shipley Do-Nuts has 400 locations in 6 states, with plans to have 500 stores or more by the year 2020. What sets Shipley Do-Nuts apart from the rest are that the company not only bakes them fresh each day, they bake small batches so most customers will enjoy a hot, fresh donut that is minutes old, rather than hours old.

The company also offers a wide range of beverages including coffees, espresso, cappuccinos, and iced coffee drinks. Franchising began in the 1950’s. Shipley Do-Nuts also offers catering and pre-orders for large groups.

Shipley Do-Nuts