Panera is the latest restaurant chain to announce a management shake-up

The moms and dad business of fast-casual chain Panera Bread is getting a brand-new president, the current in a series of CEO shifts at significant dining establishment chains.

Panera Brands stated Tuesday that existing CEO José Alberto Dueñas, who has actually held the task for the last 1 1/2 years, would step down instantly however stay as a “unique consultant” to the brand-new CEO up until completion of March. Paul Carbone, Panera’s CFO, will act as interim CEO as the business searches for a long-term leader.

” I am tremendously pleased with leading Panera throughout this transformative duration for the Business,” Dueñas stated. Panera Brands consists of the eponymous chain along with Caribou Coffee and bagel chain Einstein Bros.

Dueñas signed up with Panera in mid-2023, with the chain explaining his consultation as its “next generation of CEO management and Board governance in preparation for its ultimate IPO.” While the business supposedly submitted in complete confidence to go public in late 2023, it has yet to list.

Dueñas likewise managed the Panera chain’s “biggest menu improvement ever” in 2024, that included more concentrate on products like mac and cheese and sandwiches and larger part sizes.

The menu modifications likewise removed Panera’s Charged Sips series of drinks, which consisted of high levels of caffeine. The beverages were the topic of several claims, which declared that they left some clients with long-term injuries and issues such as body shakes.

The executive modification at Panera is the current of numerous CEO changes at significant dining establishment chains over the previous year in the middle of a hard customer costs environment for brand names from McDonald’s to Nike.

Brian Niccol, previously the CEO of Mexican grill chain Chipotle, took control of the leading task at Starbucks in September in an abrupt end to previous CEO Laxman Narasimhan’s time in the function. Starbucks has actually reported falling sales in essential markets, consisting of the United States and China, for much of the previous year.

Scott Boatwright, formerly Chipotle’s COO, took control of as interim CEO in August.

On the other hand, previous P.F. Chang’s CEO Damola Adamolekun has actually helmed Red Lobster because September, the very same month that the seafood-focused chain emerged from personal bankruptcy.

Train CEO John Chidsey retired at the end of 2024, the year after he managed the sandwich chain’s sale to personal equity company Roark Capital in an offer worth about $9 billion.

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