Franchise owner-operator Franchise Management Inc. has opened a Panera Bread restaurant in Niagara Falls in Ontario’s Niagara Region. Located at 6318 Lundy’s Lane, just west of Drummond Rd., the freestanding unit is shared with Franchise Management’s Pizza Hut restaurant. Panera Bread Company was introduced in St Louis in Missouri in 1987 featuring a wide selection of pastries and baked goods along with artisanal breads and a dine-in and take-out menu of sandwiches, salads, soups, flatbreads, etc. The Woodstock, New Brunswick-based Franchise Management Inc. acquired the rights to operate the Panera Bread franchise in Ontario in 2016 and currently has twelve of the quick casual locations in Southern Ontario. FMI’s Chief Growth Officer Matthew Leech adds that Panera locations are planned to open in Vaughan, Thornhill and Ottawa this year. FMI is targeting 2000 to 2500 square foot sites in Ontario for the latest Panera design that incorporates more drive-thru access, contactless dine-in and delivery along with its updated ordering kiosks and baking ovens in full view of the customer.
Franchise Management Inc., 417 Connell St., Unit 7, Woodstock, New Brunswick E7M 5G5 (506/328-4631 www.fmigroup.ca)