Who owns Caribou Coffee?
Caribou Coffee is owned by Panera Brands (the United States), which has owned the brand since 14 January 2013.[1] Caribou Coffee was founded in 1992 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was independent until 2013.
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Key facts
- Current owner
- Panera Brands, Inc. reported
- Owned since
- Previous owner
- Independent (1992–2013)
- Owner HQ
- 🇺🇸 United States, Newton, Massachusetts
- Origin
- 🇺🇸 United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Founded
- 1992
- Category
- Restaurants & foodservice › Quick-service restaurants › Coffee & café chains
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee is the second-largest speciality coffee chain in the United States by store count, founded in Minnesota in 1992 and strongest across the upper Midwest. JAB acquired it in 2012 and later grouped it with Panera. Its stores were designed around fireplaces and wood interiors to suit long winters, which distinguished the format from the chains it competed with.
Ownership timeline of Caribou Coffee
- 2013 – present Panera Brands [1] reported
Where Caribou Coffee sits in Panera Brands
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
Open the full Panera Brands ownership tree →
Other brands owned by Panera Brands
Latest news about Caribou Coffee
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Caribou Coffee?
The parent company of Caribou Coffee is Panera Brands, a privately held company headquartered in the United States.
Is Caribou Coffee American?
Yes. Caribou Coffee originated in the United States in 1992 and its owner, Panera Brands, is also headquartered in the United States.
Since when has Panera Brands owned Caribou Coffee?
Panera Brands has owned Caribou Coffee since 14 January 2013.
Who owned Caribou Coffee before Panera Brands?
Caribou Coffee was an independent company from its founding in 1992 in Minneapolis, Minnesota until Panera Brands acquired it in 2013.
Is Caribou Coffee still owned by Panera Brands?
Yes. As of 6 September 2026, Caribou Coffee is still owned by Panera Brands. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Panera Bread — our story — Panera Brands, Inc., Official document; retrieved 6 September 2026.
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