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Krispy Kreme, Panera, Pret a Manger, and Peet’s Coffee are some of the most beloved chains in America.
However, not everyone realises that these chains are all owned by the same company.
JAB Holding is the investment arm of the secretive Reimann family. JAB owns chains including Krispy Kreme, Panera, Caribou Coffee, Au Bon Pain, and Pret A Manger, as well as Keurig Dr. Pepper and bottled-water brand Core.
Here’s a breakdown of all the chains owned by JAB:
The family behind the massive holding company has been in the news recently because Bild, Germany’s largest newspaper, reported that it had uncovered documents that revealed Albert Reimann Sr. and Albert Reimann Jr. were supporters of the Nazi party and that during World War II they used Russian civilians and French prisoners of war as forced laborers.
When Albert Reimann Sr. was in control of JAB, the company was focused on industrial chemicals. In recent years, however, the holding company has acquired some of the biggest names in food and beverage.
Read on for more details on all the chains JAB owns:
JAB acquired Peet’s Coffee and Tea in 2012.
It then did a deal for Caribou Coffee.
Next up was D.E Master Blenders 1753.
JAB struck a deal in 2013 to buy the coffee company D.E. Master Blenders 1753, which had been spun out of Sara Lee Corp. a year earlier, for $US9.8 billion.
Then it struck a big deal in 2014 to create Jacobs Douwe Egberts, which owns brands including Kenco, Tassimo, Senseo, and Moccona.
JAB Holding bought Einstein Bros.’ parent company in 2014.
JAB also bought Einstein Noah, a Colorado-based bagel company, in a $US370 million deal. Einstein Noah was founded in 1995 and was operating more than 850 US stores at the time of the sale.
It also acquired the leading Nordic coffee retailer.
JAB-owned Peet’s Coffee and Tea has gone on a buying spree.
JAB’s acquisitions aren’t restricted to chains.
JAB also has investments in top European brands, including Marcilla Professional, Pickwick, and Friele, to name a few. The company also owns the leading makers of high-end brewing products.
In 2015, news broke that JAB was planning to acquire Keurig.
That December, JAB announced plans to buy Keurig for about $US13.9 billion.
In 2018, Keurig merged with Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
JAB added Krispy Kreme to the mix in 2016.
Panera was a big-name purchase.
Panera then acquired its sandwich rival Au Bon Pain.
The two brands have strikingly similar menus, selling sandwiches, salads, soups, and coffee with an emphasis on nutrition that many fast-food competitors do not have.
In May 2018, JAB agreed to a deal to buy Pret A Manger.
Pret has been rapidly building out its international presence, opening locations in the US, Hong Kong and China, and France, adding to its already strong presence in the UK.
Insomnia Cookies joined the JAB empire thanks to a deal with Krispy Kreme.
The terms of the deal were not announced, though a source told CNBC that the then-unannounced deal would value Insomnia Cookies at less than $US500 million.
Core is one of the latest beverage brands to come under JAB’s control.
Core is best known for its bottled water brand, Core Hydration, and fruit hydration brand, Core Organic.
Frank Chaparro, Jonathan Marino, and Rachel Butt contributed to earlier versions of this post.
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