CHICAGO – Bakery cafes have emerged as high-fliers in the restaurant
industry, and are well-positioned to leverage new growth opportunities as the
economy continues its slow recovery. Systemwide sales for the bakery cafe
industry grew by 12 percent to more than $4.5 billion in 2008. Industry leaders
Panera Bread, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Au Bon Pain accounted for the lions
share of sales, with $2.6 billion, $393 million and $307 million respectively.
The consumer trade-down from full-service to limited-service formats that
solidified through 2008 and into 2009 allowed fast-casual bakery cafes to truly
shine, says Darren Tristano, EVP at foodservice industry consultant Technomic.
The appeal of moderately priced, high-quality menu offerings served in
contemporary ambiance, as well as consumer perception of value for this format,
has more than likely strengthened over the past year.
The findings are detailed in a new study, the 2009 Technomic Top 25 Bakery Cafe
Chains Restaurant Report. Some trends, chains and products examined in this
report include:
- Health and nutrition: Einstein Bros. Bagels Lighter Fare Menus
- Expansion of breakfast offerings: Atlanta Bread Company, Corner Bakery
Cafe and Panera Bread - Revamped catering programs: Au Bon Pains Hot Lunch line
- Value equation: La Madeleines Choose Two Menu, Einstein Bros. Bagels
Snack-Out menu, Au Bon Pains small-bite Portions menu - Nontraditional sites and urban locations: Corner Bakery Cafe into
airports, college campuses and military bases, Einstein Bros. Bagels into
medical centers and hotels. - Social media: use of Facebook and Twitter to promote new and limited-time
offerings.
Other interesting findings include:
- The Top 25 bakery cafe chains sales reached more than $4.5 billion and
grew by 11.8 percent in 2008. Units expanded by 6.6 percent to 3,107
locations. - Panera Bread represented over half of the Top 25 chains sales in 2008.
The next closest concept was Einstein Bros. Bagels, with less than 10 percent
of the Top 25s sales. Unit count was more widely spread, with Panera Bread
making up 42.6 percent and Einstein Bros. Bagels comprising 16 percent of unit
share. - Paradise Bakery & Cafe had the fastest rate of sales growth at 30.7
percent. Le Pain Quotidien was the leader in store count growth rate at 29.6
percent.
The 2009 Technomic Top 25 Bakery Cafe Chains Restaurant Report was designed to
help restaurant operators and suppliers identify top performers, analyze their
performance in sales and units, and better understand the industrys dynamics
and current trends. Comprehensive appendices list the Top 25 Bakery Cafe chains
alphabetically, rank them by sales and units, and profile individual chains.
About Technomic, Inc.
Technomic provides clients throughout North America with the facts, insights and
consulting support they need to enhance their business strategies, decisions and
results. Its services include numerous publications and digital products, as
well as proprietary studies and ongoing research on all aspects of the food
industry.
Source:
Technomic, Inc.
