In the Spring of 1978 at Boston's historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace, businessman Louis Kane discovered a bakery display showcasing a new line of ovens for the French manufacturer, Pavailler. Enchanted by the aroma of freshly baked bread and impressed by the quality of the product, Kane had a vision. Why not make wonderful freshly baked bread available to the commuters, tourists, shoppers, students and residents throughout the city. From this chance encounter, the Au Bon Pain urban bakery concept was born.

Today there are more than 400 Au Bon Pain bakery cafes operating in the United States, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. Au Bon Pain real estate applies to some of the most visible urban corners and crossroads, in transportation centers, hotels, regional shopping malls, hospitals and universities.

Marketplace Design

Au Bon Pain has transformed itself into a lively, bustling marketplace where customers personally select their menu choices from individual stations located throughout the caf้. Au Bon Pain's approach to design is to focus on how the food is merchandised. Customers eat with their eyes and the inviting menu items and abundant displays allow them to do so.

Au Bon Pain makes sure the menu continues to provide distinctively tasty items that reflect and reinforce their bread and bakery roots. A new Artisan Bread Collection was rolled out in 2004. Bakery selections include larger and better tasting Zero Grams Trans Fat muffins, more flavorful croissants, baked Focaccia sandwiches, new salads, and more varieties of Au Bon Pain signature soups.

Artisan Bread Collection
Au Bon Pain's Artisan Bread Collection is a growing selection of high quality Artisan Breads created from the guidance of French artisan bread master Lionel Poilane. In addition to enjoying a sandwich made with Artisan Bread in the café, customers can browse the Wall of Bread and select a loaf to take home along with one of Private Harvest’s dipping oils.

Au Bon Pain Thailand
The first Au Bon Pain store was established in Thailand, 7th July 1997 amidst the Asian economy crisis. The brand quickly gained popularity because of its unique product offering and prime real estate locations.

Today Au Bon Pain owns and manages 35 cafés. 29 of them in Bangkok and 6 upcountry.