Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread Company vs We're Rolling Pretzel Company Franchise Comparison

After more than 17 years in the retail industry, Ken Rosenthal changed gears and founded Saint Louis Bread Co. in 1987. His goal was to create a neighborhood bakery where people could pick up fresh-baked bread, meals and snacks. In 1993, Rosenthal sold Saint Louis Bread to Au Bon Pain Co. Six years later, the company was renamed Panera Bread. The future growth of Panera Bread will be based upon company bakery-cafe development as well as the continued sale of franchise area development agreements. Panera Bread does not sell single-unit franchises, so it is not possible to open just one bakery-cafe. Rather, we have chosen to develop by selling market areas which require the franchise developer to open a number of units, typically 15 bakery-cafes in a period of 6 years. Panera Bread franchises must be well-capitalized to open great bakery-cafes and meet this aggressive development schedule. Additionally, they must have a proven track record as excellent multi-unit restaurant operators to operate great Panera Bread bakery-cafes.

Kevin Krabill founded We're Rolling Pretzel Co. in 1996 with his own proprietary pretzel dough recipe. Based in Alliance, Ohio, the private company began franchising in 1998 and offers franchises in both traditional and nontraditional locations, including regional shopping malls, airports, amusement parks and universities.

We're Rolling Pretzel Company has superior quality pretzels and drinks as well as the best menu variety of any pretzel franchise company.  The franchise system is supported by food service professionals who have decades of experience in the industry as well as Associates who have experience in all aspects of restaurant operations and marketing.