JAB Holding Co. – owner of Panera, Au Bon Pain and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, as well as coffee brands Douwe Egberts, Peet’s and Stumptown, among others – is acquiring UK business Pret A Manger.
US bakery-café chain Panera Bread Company has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Luxembourg investment fund JAB Holding, squashing speculation that Starbucks would succeed in attaining the acquisition.