Panera founder to give Purdue corporate ethics talk
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Ron Shaich, founder of Panera Bread Co., will speak March 29 as part of the Purdue University Series on Corporate Citizenship and Ethics.
Shaich will speak on "Conscious Capitalism" at 7 p.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. The talk, free and open to the public, is presented by the College of Education's James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship and the Krannert School of Management.
Shaich is Panera's executive board chairman and co-CEO. He directs a range of long-term innovation and strategic initiatives for the company, which operates or franchises nearly 1,600 locations in 40 states and Canada. Its 2010 sales were more than $3 billion.
He also serves as president of the Panera Bread Foundation and recently spearheaded the Panera Cares initiative, which has created nonprofit community cafes.
At the Panera Cares cafes, the menu is consistent with the traditional Panera Bread menu, but customers can take what they need and donate what they can. There are no prices or cash registers, only suggested donation levels and donation bins. The cafes also offer the option of volunteering an hour of time for a meal. The Panera Cares cafe model is designed to be self-sustaining with support from the community.
Shaich began his career in the bakery-cafe industry in 1981. He co-founded Au Bon Pain Co. before founding Panera Bread.
He was awarded the 2011 Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators Pioneer Award as one of the most significant contributors to the foodservice industry. Past winners have included Colonel Harland Sanders, Ray Kroc, Norman Brinker and J. Willard Marriott Sr. In 2005 he was awarded the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Gold Plate Award as an outstanding leader in the food service industry. Twice he has received the Nation's Restaurant News Golden Chain Award for success and leadership in the foodservice industry.
The Purdue Series on Corporate Citizenship and Ethics began in 2003. Speakers chosen from a variety of disciplines discuss business ethics and the role citizens play in corporate ethics, providing an overview of the impact of corporate ethics on business, the economy and society as a whole.
Shaich's talk is sponsored by Purdue Federal Credit Union, Karl and Kathy Krapek, and ArcelorMittal.
Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Source: Tim Newton, Krannert director of external relations and communication, 765-496-7271, tnewton@purdue.eud