Ampex Brands buys cafe chain
Yum! Brands and 7-Eleven franchisee Ampex Brands has purchased bakery and cafe chain Au Bon Pain, helping to expand its international reach. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The seller was Panera Bread, part of privately held JAB Holding Co., which owns a range of companies including Pret a Manger. Another one of its companies, Krispy Kreme, is set to go public this week.
Ampex owns more than 400 restaurants and convenience stores. The deal makes the Richardson, Texas, company a franchiser for the first time in its 16-year history. The transaction includes 171 Au Bon Pain locations as well as franchising rights to an additional 131 locations.
Au Bon Pain got its start in Boston in 1981.
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