Ron Shaich Biography

Thirty years ago, Ron Shaich set out to change the world by changing the way America eats. He's done that with not one, but two successful restaurant brands. By co-founding Au Bon Pain, Co. Inc. and founding Panera Bread, Shaich shook up the industry by offering an antithesis to fast food - hand made, artisan food served in warm and welcoming environments by people you can trust. Today, Panera Bread serves in excess of 7 million people a week, employs over 60,000 people and is a leader in the restaurant space.

Under Shaich's direction, Panera has been the second best performing restaurant stock when measured over the last decade (ending August 17, 2012) and the second best performing consumer stock on the S&P consumer index when measured over that same decade.

Today, Shaich serves as Panera Bread's Chairman and co-CEO. Having made his name as an entrepreneur who grew his business into a national chain of nearly 1,600 bakery cafes in 40 states and Canada with a $4.5 billion market cap, Shaich remains focused on building a company of quality over the long term.

Shaich has received widespread recognition for his leadership. Shaich was awarded the 2011 MUFSO Pioneer Award for being one of the most significant contributors in the history of the food service industry. Past winners have included Colonel Harland Sanders, Ray Kroc, Norman Brinker and J. Willard Marriott, Sr. In 2005, he was awarded IFMA's Gold Plate Award for being the outstanding leader in the food service industry. As well, he has twice received the Nation's Restaurant News Golden Chain Award which is given to figures who exemplify success and leadership in the food service industry.

Shaich has also been a national finalist for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year. The Company and Shaich's innovative management style have been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, The Economist, TIME, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, all three network evening news programs (NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, ABC World News Tonight) and several books. As well, Shaich frequently represents Panera Bread on CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN and Fox News.

Shaich also serves as President of the Panera Bread Foundation and recently spearheaded the Panera Cares initiative, through which the Foundation created nonprofit community cafes aimed at addressing issues related to food insecurity. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Lown Cardiovascular Research Foundation and on the Board of the Rashi School. Shaich formerly served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Clark University. He is also a co-founder of No Labels, a political organization aimed at reducing hyper-partisanship and improving problem-solving in politics.

Shaich received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark University in 1976 and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1978. He resides in Brookline, MA with his wife, Nancy, and children, Michael and Emma.

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