Bread & Company has been purchased by Florida-based restaurant chain First Watch. They aim to make the breakfast chain based in Nashville, Tennessee part of its 148 units before the year ends.
With a fast-casual concept, Bread & Company can expand with the help of First Watch. There'll be a lot of possibilities that won't limit on bread concept alone, rather it will be a concept as a whole.
Ken Pendery, CEO of First Watch, said Bread and Company has a different service model and First Watch can be able to improve it. The company considers themselves as pretty fast when it comes to delivery model, such as the fast-casual component that Bread & Company offers.
First Watch gave some insights on the possible concept since the other aspects are yet to be designed. The company will focus on having to combine full service and fast casual. Whatever the company might learn, the chances of applying it system-wide is high.
Pendery said the two-unit brand would still operate under Bread & Company that is known to be a fast-casual concept.
“The great part about being able to pick up a brand that’s been successful with a service model or a specific menu item or a beverage program is we’re looking for something we can learn from,” said Pendery.
Bread & Company is not the only food chain that First Watch purchased. The company has been acquiring a variety of food chains over the past couple of years. Earlier this year, the company bought The Good Egg, which is a breakfast chain that has 20 branches in Arizona.
Before the year ends, First Watch expects that they can still add 10 new units, and by next year they plan 15 additional locations.
Bread & Company was purchased by First Watch with the primary goal of getting its real estate. The breakfast chain founded in 1992 offers mainly breads, pastries and coffee in a limited 15-seat restaurant. It was in 1995 that the chain expanded and included salads and sandwiches along with four more locations that were built.
