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Panera, P.F. Chang’s spinoff, Dutch BrosPanera, P.F. Chang’s spinoff, Dutch Bros

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Leigh Anne Zinsmeister, Managing Editor

January 21, 2025

2024 was a big year of change for Panera Bread. And those changes have continued into 2025 with the announcement earlier this month that CEO Jose Alberto Dueñas is stepping down. One big question mark is whether the chain will continue on its path to go public again. Expect to hear a lot more about what’s happening at Panera this year.

P.F. Chang’s has big plans for its fast-casual spinoff, Pagoda Asian Grill. The chain is currently testing the bowls and wraps concept in four locations, and says results have been very strong.

Dutch Bros wants more sales, in the morning. The drive-thru beverage chain generates sales throughout the day, a balance that is unusual for beverage concepts. CEO Christine Barone told analysts at the ICR Conference that the company has some potential to generate customer frequency in the morning.

Get all the headlines in today’s Restaurant Daily podcast.

About the Author

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

Managing Editor

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservices Vertical, specifically Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, and Foodservice Director.  Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 500 report and Restaurant Hospitality’s Best Cocktails and Best Sandwiches contests. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team, and was the managing editor for Supermarket News until December 2024.

Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history. 

Email Leigh Anne at [email protected] 

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience: 

  • Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)

  • Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)

  • Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)

  • Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)

  • Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)

  • Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)

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