Bruegger's
Encyclopedia
Bruegger's Enterprises, Inc., and wholly owned subsidiary
Threecaf Brands Canada, Inc., are franchise
rs and operators of Bruegger's bakery
-café
s, Timothy's World Coffee
, mmmuffins
, and Michel's Baguette
.
Bruegger's brand restaurants serve bagels, breads, coffee
, specialty drinks, soups, salads, sandwiches
, wraps, paninis, desserts, fresh fruit
and a large variety of other related items. They produce approximately 70 million bagels each year, and are the holders of the Guinness World Record for producing the world's largest bagel. Bruegger's operates approximately 300 restaurants in 26 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.
and Mike Dressell, with the first store opening in Troy
, New York
.
The business was bought by Quality Dining (a franchisee) in June 1996 for $142 million in stock, with the founders joining the Quality Dining board. However the merge was not a comfortable one, within a short period Brue and Dressell became concerned with the ongoing operations and scope for growth, leading to a critical U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing alleging a lack of strategic direction. Holding a combined 26% stake, Brue and Dressell called for reorganization of Quality Dining, resulting in Bruegger's being resold to Brue and Dressel in October 1997 for $45 millon. Brue has since referred to the original sale as part of his "biggest mistake".
In May 2003, James J. Greco
and Sun Capital Partners acquired the company from the founders.
Today, approximately 300 Bruegger's locations operate in 26 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada
. The company is headquartered in Burlington
, Vermont
and James J. Greco
serves as CEO
. Bruegger's announced $200 million in revenue in 2008.
On November 13, 2009, Bruegger's purchased the retail operations of Timothy's World Coffee
, mmmuffins
, and Michel's Baguette
through a wholly owned subsidiary called ThreeCaf Brands Canada, Inc. Bruegger's intends to continue operations of all three brands. The three brands combined operate approximately 140 locations throughout Canada.
On March 17, 2011, the French Le Duff group announced the buyout of Bruegger's. Le Duff already has a U.S. presence with its La Madeleine brand, which has 60 units domestically. Le Duff plans to "Francify" some Bruegger's locations and will combine other units with Brioche Dorée outlets.
Bruegger's is best known for its best-selling product, a variety of authentic New York-style, water boiled bagels that are baked fresh and served hot. The bagels come in a variety of 17 different base flavors and in seasonal varieties. Many Bruegger's bakeries feature viewing areas where customers can see how the bagels are made.
s.
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
Threecaf Brands Canada, Inc., are franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
rs and operators of Bruegger's bakery
Bakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
-café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
s, Timothy's World Coffee
Timothy's World Coffee
Timothy's World Coffee is a large Canadian chain of coffeeshops.-Origin and background:Timothy's was founded in 1975 as a retailer of premium roasted coffee beans by Timothy Snelgrove and his wife Teresa Snelgrove. The company was originated as a business-school project Snelgrove undertook while...
, mmmuffins
Mmmuffins
mmmuffins is Canadian coffee and muffin retailer founded in 1979. It granted its first franchise in 1980. The company, which has locations throughout Canada, is one of the largest specialty baked goods franchising companies in Canada. The company was purchased by Timothy's World Coffee in 2002. ...
, and Michel's Baguette
Michel's Baguette
Michel's Bakery Café is a Canadian bakery-café founded in 1980, operating restaurants throughout Canada. The company is one of the largest bakery-café chains in Canada and operates both corporate and franchise locations. The company was purchased by Timothy's Coffees of the World Inc. in 2001...
.
Bruegger's brand restaurants serve bagels, breads, coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
, specialty drinks, soups, salads, sandwiches
Sandwiches
"Sandwiches" is a song by American electronic band Detroit Grand Pubahs. It reached number 29 in the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.- Track listing :...
, wraps, paninis, desserts, fresh fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
and a large variety of other related items. They produce approximately 70 million bagels each year, and are the holders of the Guinness World Record for producing the world's largest bagel. Bruegger's operates approximately 300 restaurants in 26 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.
Corporate history
Bruegger's was founded in 1983 by Nordahl BrueNordahl Brue
Nordahl Brue is a lawyer and entrepreneur best known as a founder of Bruegger's Bagels.Nordahl Brue was educated at Grinnell College and Washington University in St. Louis . In 1983, Brue and Mike Dressell opened the first Bruegger's Bagels in Troy, New York. Today, Bruegger's runs approximately...
and Mike Dressell, with the first store opening in Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
The business was bought by Quality Dining (a franchisee) in June 1996 for $142 million in stock, with the founders joining the Quality Dining board. However the merge was not a comfortable one, within a short period Brue and Dressell became concerned with the ongoing operations and scope for growth, leading to a critical U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing alleging a lack of strategic direction. Holding a combined 26% stake, Brue and Dressell called for reorganization of Quality Dining, resulting in Bruegger's being resold to Brue and Dressel in October 1997 for $45 millon. Brue has since referred to the original sale as part of his "biggest mistake".
In May 2003, James J. Greco
James J. Greco
James Joseph Greco is an American businessman and entrepreneur. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the restaurant group Le Duff America, a bakery café chain headquartered in Burlington, Vermont; Dallas, Texas; and Toronto, Canada.-Early Years and Personal Life:Greco was born in...
and Sun Capital Partners acquired the company from the founders.
Today, approximately 300 Bruegger's locations operate in 26 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The company is headquartered in Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
and James J. Greco
James J. Greco
James Joseph Greco is an American businessman and entrepreneur. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the restaurant group Le Duff America, a bakery café chain headquartered in Burlington, Vermont; Dallas, Texas; and Toronto, Canada.-Early Years and Personal Life:Greco was born in...
serves as CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
. Bruegger's announced $200 million in revenue in 2008.
On November 13, 2009, Bruegger's purchased the retail operations of Timothy's World Coffee
Timothy's World Coffee
Timothy's World Coffee is a large Canadian chain of coffeeshops.-Origin and background:Timothy's was founded in 1975 as a retailer of premium roasted coffee beans by Timothy Snelgrove and his wife Teresa Snelgrove. The company was originated as a business-school project Snelgrove undertook while...
, mmmuffins
Mmmuffins
mmmuffins is Canadian coffee and muffin retailer founded in 1979. It granted its first franchise in 1980. The company, which has locations throughout Canada, is one of the largest specialty baked goods franchising companies in Canada. The company was purchased by Timothy's World Coffee in 2002. ...
, and Michel's Baguette
Michel's Baguette
Michel's Bakery Café is a Canadian bakery-café founded in 1980, operating restaurants throughout Canada. The company is one of the largest bakery-café chains in Canada and operates both corporate and franchise locations. The company was purchased by Timothy's Coffees of the World Inc. in 2001...
through a wholly owned subsidiary called ThreeCaf Brands Canada, Inc. Bruegger's intends to continue operations of all three brands. The three brands combined operate approximately 140 locations throughout Canada.
Menu
Bruegger's offers fresh hot bagels, unique coffee blends, specialty sandwiches, paninis, fresh-made salads, carb-friendly wraps, deli style sandwiches, soups, desserts and original cream cheese in an assortment of flavors.Bruegger's is best known for its best-selling product, a variety of authentic New York-style, water boiled bagels that are baked fresh and served hot. The bagels come in a variety of 17 different base flavors and in seasonal varieties. Many Bruegger's bakeries feature viewing areas where customers can see how the bagels are made.
World record
On August 27, 2004, Bruegger's created the World's Largest Bagel, which currently holds the Guinness World Record. The bagel weighed in at 868 pounds and required 1,100 pounds of dough, 900 gallons of water, and a bake time of 10 hours. It was cooked at the New York State Fair and was sliced and served to onlookers, who were encouraged to make a donation that would benefit local area food bankFood bank
A food bank or foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes mostly donated food to a wide variety of agencies that in turn feed the hungry. The largest sources of food are for-profit growers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers who in the normal course of business have...
s.