Last Updated on 08/31/2020 by GS Staff
No, McDonald’s does not own Panera Bread. Panera was purchased by JAB Holding Company in July 2017 for $7.5 billion. JAB Holding Company is a privately held German company that holds stakes in other well-known businesses such as Coty, Caribou Coffee, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Krispy Kreme, and Keurig Dr Pepper.
Prior to Panera Bread being purchased by JAB Holding Company, Panera was a publically traded company in the United States. According to qsrmagazine.com, shareholders received $315 per share in cash for every share they owned. Panera is no longer traded in the market since it was acquired by a private business.
While Mcdonald’s has had notable stakes in restaurants in the past, such as Chipotle and Boston Market, they have never been associated with Panera Bread. However, McDonald’s was speculated to be a possible acquirer of Panera Bread before JAB Holding Company took over Panera.
McDonald’s is a publically traded company that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MCD. The company no longer has noteworthy ownership or investments in other businesses. Their current objective is growth of the McDonald’s brand as opposed to growth through acquistion.
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Image – Panera Bread by Mike Mozart
Image – McDonald’s by Phillip Pessar