Panera Bread 2007 Annual Report Download - page 17

uses an eLearning system and Learning Tools website to provide on-line training for Panera’s retail associates and
on-line baking instructions for its bakers.
Most bakery-cafes also provide customers free Internet access provided through a managed WiFi network. As
a result, we host one of the largest free public WiFi networks in the country.
COMPETITION
We compete with numerous sources in our trade areas. Our Panera and Paradise bakery-cafes compete with
specialty food, casual dining and quick service cafes, bakeries, and restaurant retailers, including national, regional
and locally-owned cafes, bakeries, and restaurants. Our bakery-cafes compete based on customers’ needs for
breakfast, lunch, PM “chill-out,” dinner, and take home bread. The competitive factors include location, envi-
ronment, customer service, price and product quality. We compete for leased space in desirable locations. Some of
our competitors may have capital resources greater than ours. For further information on competition, see “Item 1A.
Risk Factors” in this Form 10-K.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 25, 2007, Panera had approximately 7,800 full-time associates (defined as associates who
average 25 hours or more per week), of whom approximately 500 were employed in general or administrative
functions, principally at or from Panera’s support centers or executive offices; approximately 1,000 were employed
in Panera’s fresh dough facility operations; and approximately 6,300 were employed in Panera’s bakery-cafe
operations as bakers, managers, and associates. Panera also had approximately 14,000 part-time hourly associates at
Panera bakery-cafes at December 25, 2007. Panera does not have any collective bargaining agreements with its
associates and considers its employee relations to be good. Panera places a priority on staffing its bakery-cafes,
fresh dough facilities, and support center operations with skilled associates and invests in training programs to
ensure the quality of its operations.
As of December 25, 2007, Paradise had approximately 350 full-time associates, of whom approximately 40
were employed in general or administrative functions; approximately 10 were employed in Paradise’s commissary
operations; and approximately 300 were employed in Paradise’s bakery-cafe operations as bakers, managers, and
associates. Paradise also had approximately 1,250 part-time hourly associates at Paradise bakery-cafes at Decem-
ber 25, 2007. Paradise does not have any collective bargaining agreements with its associates and considers its
employee relations to be good. Paradise places a priority on staffing its bakery-cafes, fresh dough facility, and
support operations with skilled associates and invests in training programs to ensure the quality of its operations.
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
Our brand, intellectual property and our confidential and proprietary information are very important to our
business and competitive position. We protect these assets through a combination of trademark, copyright, trade
secret and unfair competition and contract law.
The Panera», Panera Bread», Saint Louis Bread Co.», Via Panera», Crispani», You Pick Two», Paradise
Bakery», Paradise Bakery & Café»and Mother Bread design trademarks are some of the trademarks that we have
registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, we have filed to register other marks
with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. We have also registered some of our marks in a number of
foreign countries.
CORPORATE HISTORY AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We are a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 6710 Clayton Road, Richmond
Heights, Missouri 63117 and our telephone number is [phone].
We were originally organized in March 1981 as a Massachusetts corporation under the name Au Bon Pain Co.,
Inc. and reincorporated in Delaware in June 1988. In December 1993, we purchased Saint Louis Bread Company. In
August 1998, we sold our Au Bon Pain Division and changed our name to Panera Bread Company. In February
2007, we purchased 51 percent of the outstanding stock of Paradise Bakery & Café, Inc.
7