RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Panera Bread today announced a new agreement with Covelli Enterprises, dba Flapan, LLC, to develop bakery-cafes in the Florida counties of Palm Beach and Broward. Under the conditions of the new agreement, the Franchisee will open 10 new bakery-cafes. In a separate agreement, Flapan, LLC acquired 16 existing Panera Bread(R) locations in Palm Beach and Broward counties from franchisee West Palm Bread, LLC.
Flapan, LLC is owned by Sam Covelli of Covelli Enterprises, which currently operates 132 Panera Bread locations in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Covelli Enterprises continually wins awards for exceptional service, cleanliness, customer service and expansive growth. Their Panera Bread locations have won "Best of Awards" in each of the communities they operate.
"We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Sam and the entire Covelli organization," said Mike Kupstas, Panera Bread Senior Vice President and Chief Franchise Officer. "They are valued members of the Panera team, and it's wonderful to see their business expand into new markets."
"We are excited about our expansion into Florida," said Sam Covelli. "We have enjoyed tremendous success in our current markets and look forward to the opportunity to broaden our reach and bring Panera to even more communities."
With its identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh-baked, artisan bread, Panera Bread is committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. Highlighted by antibiotic free chicken, whole grain bread, select organic and all-natural ingredients and a menu with zero grams added trans fat, Panera's bakery-cafe selection offers flavorful, wholesome offerings. The menu includes a wide variety of year-round favorites to compliment new items introduced seasonally with the goal of creating new standards in everyday food choices. In neighborhoods across the country, guests are enjoying Panera's warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor and free WiFi Internet access. At the close of each day, Panera Bread bakery-cafes donate bread and baked goods to community organizations in need.
Panera Bread serves fresh baked, handcrafted artisan breads, sweet and savory baked goods, hand-tossed salads, wholesome soups, and signature sandwiches in a distinctly warm and welcoming environment. Panera Bread is committed to using great tasting, quality ingredients in the food we offer and contributing to the neighborhoods in which our customers and employees live and work through programs like Operation Dough-Nation(R). Headquartered in Richmond Heights, MO, Panera Bread owns and franchises 1,167 bakery-cafes under the Panera Bread(R) and Saint Louis Bread Co.(R) names as of December 25, 2007. For more information, visit panerabread.com.
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/AQTH18307022008-1.htm
Friday, February 8, 2008
Toronto Adventures - The Danforth
I love my neighborhood. The Danforth. Toronto’s Greektown. Friendly old men call out, “Hello Kooklamoo!” when I walk by. At first I thought it meant, “You crazy cow.” Then I found out it means, “My little doll.”
Initially I thought everyone in Greektown was always angry. Because Greek people don’t talk. They yell. In the bank. In the bookstore. Especially in the grocery store. If there’s one thing the Greek people do well, it’s pick out produce. And yell.
Today I was meandering down a street laden with flowers when I smelled cinnamon. Yummy, yummy cinnamon. I followed my nose like the commercial says to a little bakery packed to the rafters with customers. Each was holding a loaf of yummy looking braided cinnamon bread tied up with ribbons.
I have never in my life been domestic enough to know that the “So-And-So Bakery” makes the best bread or “Mama’s Baked Goods” has delicious pies. But that was about to change. This was my chance to finally be on the “inside” and nab some of the baked goods everybody clamors for. I grabbed a loaf of the bread and waited in the impossibly long line up with hundreds of Greek people yelling and hugging and gesturing and arguing. They were buying truckloads of decorated religious candles as well. I decided to leave the insider candle buying to another day.
I felt like Martha Stewart. Before prison. I felt like I could go home and tole-paint a snowman on something. I felt like a person who always has band-aids in her purse. I wished I had a pantry, so I could put my uber-domestic bread in my now well-stocked pantry.
After about half an hour, I got to the cash register. The girl smiled and said, “The ???(Fill in Greek word I can’t pronounce here) is $7.” I almost fell down. $7 for a loaf of bread? But because it was sort of an accomplishment for me, I splurged.
I cruised down the Danforth and started chewing away at the bread. It was all I had hoped it would be---warm, cinnamon-y and comforting. I tossed pieces to some fat pigeons. I smiled at old ladies. I was sure they were thinking I could probably crochet with the domestic abilities evidenced in my prowess for picking out baked goods.
Then, something began to dawn on me. Why were all of these Greek people buying the same loaf of bread? On Easter weekend? And why did the bakery sell religious candles? Uh oh. Why was there a special name for this bread?
Then it hit me---this must be special religious bread for the Greek Orthodox Church. And there I was, chawing away on it on the sidewalk in Greektown. Were these people offended by my buying their holy bread for a snack? Would I now go to Greek hell? What was in Greek hell? Feta from other countries? I wasn’t sure, but at least I would have company. Those pigeons had snarfed down that religious bread without even saying grace.
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=105730&sc=217
Initially I thought everyone in Greektown was always angry. Because Greek people don’t talk. They yell. In the bank. In the bookstore. Especially in the grocery store. If there’s one thing the Greek people do well, it’s pick out produce. And yell.
Today I was meandering down a street laden with flowers when I smelled cinnamon. Yummy, yummy cinnamon. I followed my nose like the commercial says to a little bakery packed to the rafters with customers. Each was holding a loaf of yummy looking braided cinnamon bread tied up with ribbons.
I have never in my life been domestic enough to know that the “So-And-So Bakery” makes the best bread or “Mama’s Baked Goods” has delicious pies. But that was about to change. This was my chance to finally be on the “inside” and nab some of the baked goods everybody clamors for. I grabbed a loaf of the bread and waited in the impossibly long line up with hundreds of Greek people yelling and hugging and gesturing and arguing. They were buying truckloads of decorated religious candles as well. I decided to leave the insider candle buying to another day.
I felt like Martha Stewart. Before prison. I felt like I could go home and tole-paint a snowman on something. I felt like a person who always has band-aids in her purse. I wished I had a pantry, so I could put my uber-domestic bread in my now well-stocked pantry.
After about half an hour, I got to the cash register. The girl smiled and said, “The ???(Fill in Greek word I can’t pronounce here) is $7.” I almost fell down. $7 for a loaf of bread? But because it was sort of an accomplishment for me, I splurged.
I cruised down the Danforth and started chewing away at the bread. It was all I had hoped it would be---warm, cinnamon-y and comforting. I tossed pieces to some fat pigeons. I smiled at old ladies. I was sure they were thinking I could probably crochet with the domestic abilities evidenced in my prowess for picking out baked goods.
Then, something began to dawn on me. Why were all of these Greek people buying the same loaf of bread? On Easter weekend? And why did the bakery sell religious candles? Uh oh. Why was there a special name for this bread?
Then it hit me---this must be special religious bread for the Greek Orthodox Church. And there I was, chawing away on it on the sidewalk in Greektown. Were these people offended by my buying their holy bread for a snack? Would I now go to Greek hell? What was in Greek hell? Feta from other countries? I wasn’t sure, but at least I would have company. Those pigeons had snarfed down that religious bread without even saying grace.
http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=105730&sc=217
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)