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Stories
Ron Shaich
(MBA 1978)
Ron Shaich’s (MBA 1978) first venture, a cookie shop in downtown Boston, evolved into Au Bon Pain. His latest—Panera Cares—allows customers to pay only what they can afford at the popular restaurants he owns, Panera Bread. There’s a box for money—and a suggested donation amount—but no one can see what you pay.
“Before we opened the first Panera Cares in Clayton, Missouri, in 2010, we’d focused on food-insecurity issues and given away hundreds of millions of dollars in product and donations,” says Shaich, founder, chairman, and CEO of Panera Bread. “This was just an opportunity to be involved with our own arms and legs.”
With nearly 1,800 stores in 44 states and Ontario, Canada, the company and its franchisees employ about 80,000 workers and saw system-wide sales of nearly $4 billion in 2013.
“Serving people is the most powerful way I know to make a difference,” says Shaich. “Once you’ve resolved your basic financial needs, work is about three things: solving problems, making a difference, and doing something that you feel a passion and respect for. That's what keeps me coming here every day.”
(Published April 2014)
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