The restaurant business is notoriously competitive and often propelled by passing fads. But, first at the helm of Au Bon Pain, and then as the founder of Panera Bread, Ron Shaich managed to create an entirely new category of dining between fast food and table service and then dominate that market in the United States. He says the strategies that brought him ... Show More
Oct 27
Staying Principled in a Time of Uncertainty
How do you lead through a crisis, build an innovative company, and prepare an organization for long-term success? For Kenneth Chenault, former CEO of American Express and current chairman at General Catalyst, effective leadership starts with two responsibilities: defining reality ... Show More
31m 55s
May 2024
Trendspotting with Ron Shaich: Panera, Cava, and Beyond
Some business leaders have a seemingly psychic ability to spot trends, and take them mainstream at just the right moment. Ron Shaich is one of those. As a pioneering force behind fast-casual dining, Shaich saw that a growing number of Americans craved higher quality food in a rel ... Show More
27m 40s
Feb 2020
Panera Bread/Au Bon Pain: Ron Shaich (2018)
In the early 1980s, Ron Shaich bought a small, struggling Boston bakery chain called Au Bon Pain, and built it out to 250 locations nationwide. Ron then saw an opportunity to build something even bigger: Panera Bread. It was the start of "fast casual" – a new kind of eating exper ... Show More
46m 9s
Nov 2025
Panera Founder Ron Shaich
Restauranteur Ron Shaich reveals how he built the fast casual industry, scale a business, and spot the trends before they happen.
Ron Shaich is an entrepreneur and investor. He was the founder and former CEO of Panera Bread and Au Bon Pain, generating 25% annualized returns a ... Show More
1h 43m
Dec 2020
#405: Chick-fil-A’s Competitive Advantage with David Salyers
Who would’ve thought a little fast-food restaurant serving chicken sandwiches would become a global, industry-leading powerhouse known for its customer service? That’s right, Chick-fil-A’s success isn’t just a result of their delicious food. David Salyers, creator of Spark and fo ... Show More
1h 22m