Panera's CEO Says The Best Decision He Ever Made Resulted In 'The Most Horrible Years Of My Life'

In the history of every successful company, there are turning points -- moments when you have to make a choice that will change everything. Ron Shaich, the founder and CEO of restaurant chain Panera Bread Co., experienced several of these junctures along the way, but one stands out among the rest. You see, Panera didn't start out as Panera. When Shaich cofounded the company in 1981 with Louis Kane, it was called the Au Bon Pain Co. The chain of French cafes expanded steadily over the years, went...