Le Pain Quotidien
{{Short description|International chain of bakery-restaurants}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Le Pain Quotidien
| logo = File:Le_Pain_Quotidien_logo.png
| logo_size = 150px
| image = Le Pain Quotidien, Fulham Road, Chelsea 01.jpg
| image_caption = Le Pain Quotidien, Chelsea, London
| website = {{URL|https://www.lepainquotidien.com}}
| founder = Alain Coumont
| founded = {{start date and age|26 October 1990}}
| location = New York City (U.S. division)
}}
File:The interior of a Le Pain Quotidien bakery-restaurant in Washington, D.C.jpg]]
File:Le Pain Quotidien, Bryant Park.jpg, New York City]]
Le Pain Quotidien{{Audio|Pronunciation for Le Pain Quotidien.ogg|listen}} (French for the daily bread) is an international chain of bakery-restaurants.{{cite news | last=Jacobs |first=Emma | title=Baker who turned tables | url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/c65a5654-33b5-11e0-b1ed-00144feabdc0.html | work=Financial Times | date=8 February 2011 | url-access=subscription}} It sells baked goods, bread, salads, sandwiches, beverages, and tartines.{{cite news |title=Le Pain Quotidien, a bakery chain that keeps a local feel | first=Hettie |last=Judah |date=6 June 2008 | work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/05/business/worldbusiness/05iht-wbspot07.1.13498892.html| url-access=subscription}}
Le Pain Quotidien operates more than 260 bakery-restaurant locations worldwide in 20 countries, including Argentina,Uruguay, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, India, Switzerland, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Colombia, Turkey, Spain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Russia, Japan, and the United States. The United States, United Kingdom, Belgium and Paris restaurants are fully company-owned and operated, while all other international Le Pain Quotidien restaurants are franchised.
A common theme in all Le Pain Quotidien locations is a long, wooden "communal table".
History
Founder Alain Coumont opened Le Pain Quotidien on 26 October 1990 at 16 rue Dansaert in Brussels.{{Cite web | url=https://www.lepainquotidien.com/fr/en/the-community-table/the-chefs-notebook/lpq-turns-25-a-birthday-with-alain-coumont | title=LPQ Turns 25: A Birthday Chat With Alain Coumont | date=6 September 2018 | publisher=Le Pain Quotidien}} As a young chef, Coumont was dissatisfied with the quality of bread available in Brussels, so he began making his own, mixing flour, water and salt into the familiar loaves of his childhood. He furnished the store with cabinets scoured from antique stores and a large table made of wood reclaimed from the floors of retired Belgian trains purchased at a local flea market: the first of Le Pain Quotidien's communal tables.{{Cite news | url=https://www.thehour.com/business/article/Rising-bankruptcy-boom-hits-bakery-with-Stamford-15297874.php | title=Bakery-restaurant with CT shops files for bankruptcy | first=Alexander | last=Soule | work=The Hour | date=May 27, 2020}}{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303703004577474553072657984 | title=Filling Up on Bread | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=November 12, 2012 | url-access=subscription}}
The first location in the United States opened on Madison Avenue in New York City in 1997.{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/8620088/Alain-Coumont-recipes-from-Languedoc-France.html |title=Alain Coumont recipes from Languedoc, France | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | first=Lucie | last=Young | date=6 July 2011}}
By 2005, the founder was receiving 50 emails per day from people wanting to secure a franchise.{{cite news | url=https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/pain-quotidien-an-unlikely-success-story | title=Pain Quotidien – an unlikely success story | first=Nick | last=Lander | work=Jancis Robinson | date=3 December 2005}}
In 2011, the company had a public relations incident when a customer in New York City found a mouse in her salad.{{cite news | url=https://freakonomics.com/podcast/freakonomics-radio-a-mouse-in-the-salad-whats-the-worst-restaurant-experience-youve-ever-had/ | title=Mouse in the Salad (Ep. 37) | first=Stephen J. | last=Dubner | work=Freakonomics Radio | date=July 21, 2011}}
In 2016, Doug Satzman became CEO of the U.S. operations and Vincent Herbert became global CEO.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2016/01/21/le-pain-quotidien-hires-new-ceo-from-starbucks-as.html | title=Le Pain Quotidien hires new CEO from Starbucks as U.S. business percolates | first=Teresa | last=Novellino | work=American City Business Journals | date=January 21, 2016}}
In March 2018, Vincent Herbert resigned.{{Cite news | url=https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/belgian-ceo-leaves-le-pain-quotidien | title=Belgian CEO leaves Le Pain Quotidien | work=Retail Detail | date=February 23, 2018}}
In December 2019, Cobepa, majority owned by Spoelberch, increased its stake in the company from 32% to 43% and the French group Norac Foods sold its 25% interest.{{cite news | url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/news-contents/economic/82289/belgium-reclaims-pain-quotidien-from-a-french-entrepreneur/ | title=Belgium reclaims Le Pain Quotidien from a French entrepreneur |work=The Brussels Times | date=6 December 2019}}
In May 2020, the parent company filed for insolvency in Belgium and the United States division filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.{{cite news | url=https://www.ibtimes.com/le-pain-quotidiens-us-business-files-bankruptcy-proposes-sale-save-some-locations-2983543 | title=Le Pain Quotidien's U.S. Business Files For Bankruptcy, Proposes Sale To Save Some Locations | first=Palash | last=Ghosh | work=International Business Times | date=May 27, 2020}} The same month the parent company signed a deal agreement with the New York-based Aurify Brands which would provide a bridge financing of $522,000 to continue the operations and ultimately acquiring all U.S. units for $3 million. Aurify Brands planned to reopen at least 35 units and to create 1,000 jobs.{{cite news | first = Lisa | last = Jennings | url = https://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/us-arm-le-pain-quotidien-files-bankruptcy-agrees-sell-units-aurify-brands-llc | title = U.S. arm of Le Pain Quotidien files bankruptcy, agrees to sell units to Aurify Brands LLC | date = May 27, 2020 | journal = Nation's Restaurant News | access-date = June 30, 2020}}
In July 2023, the company collapsed into administration in the United Kingdom and shuttered all but one of its locations in the UK.{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/amp/full-list-of-le-pain-quotidien-closures-as-company-enters-administration-with-250-jobs-lost-12914592|title=Full list of Le Pain Quotidien closures as the company enters administration|date=July 4, 2023|access-date=July 4, 2023|website=Sky News|language=en}} By 2024, all locations in Hong Kong has also closed permanently.
The worldwide turnover for Le Pain Quotidien is 270 MEUR for 220 restaurants, of which 80% are franchised. The CEO Annick VAN OVERSTRAETEN announces in 2025 the intention to open up to 100 restaurants in India.{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Arnaud |date=March 6, 2025 |title=Le Pain Quotidien retente sa chance en Inde, où il compte ouvrir 100 restaurants |url=https://www.lecho.be/entreprises/horeca/le-pain-quotidien-retente-sa-chance-en-inde-ou-il-compte-ouvrir-100-restaurants/10596635.html |access-date=March 24, 2025 |work=L'Echo}}
References
{{reflist|1}}
External links
{{commonscat|Le Pain Quotidien}}
- {{Official website|https://www.lepainquotidien.com/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pain Quotidien, Le}}
Category:Restaurants in Belgium
Category:Restaurant chains in the United States
Category:Restaurant franchises
Category:Companies based in Brussels
Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020
Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom