Panera Bread: buys 32 bakery-cafes

St. Louis / MO. (wib) Quick-casual restaurant chain Panera Bread Company reported purchase of 32 franchise-operated bakery-cafes and development rights for markets in Illinois and Minnesota for about 36 million USD. The St. Louis based company paid about 34,2 million USD in cash at the time of closing with the remaining about 1,8 million USD to be paid with interest in twelve months. The acquisition could add slightly to fiscal 2007 earnings, Panera said in Missouri.