Einstein Bros. Bagels is aiming to take a bigger bite of the U.S. market, with plans to roll out more than 300 new bakeries nationally by 2030.
The Denver-based company — America's largest retail bagel chain — operates more than 700 locations with an aim to hit 1,000. That expansion includes the rollout of Einstein Bros.' new "Elevate the Morning" store prototype.
The store design focuses on freshness, speed and a welcoming atmosphere "in a format engineered to scale quickly," according to the chain. A fresh-baked bagel case sits front and center of those shops. Einstein Bros. is accelerating its launches of that store model, according to CEO Jessica DePetro.
U.S. demand for the circular baked good is rising, with the bagel category reaching $5.8 billion in annual market value and growing about 5% per year, according to Einstein Bros. To meet that surging demand, the company said it's baking over 150 million bagels a year.
Recent research shows 52% of Americans eat bagels at any time of day, and 55% say bagels have won the breakfast wars outright, ranking them above donuts, according to Einstein Bros. Among the chain's rewards members, those under age 35 drove a 22% year-over-year increase in store visits, indicating that a new generation is embracing morning stops at Einstein Bros., the company said.
The bagel sector has its share of competition, with large chains including Bruegger's Bagels, Noah's NY Bagels and Manhattan Bagel. Dunkin' and Panera Bread also sell bagels nationwide.
"We are at an inflection point for both our brand and the broader bagel category," DePetro said in a statement. "Americans have voted with their mornings, and the data is clear: Bagels are winning. That momentum gives us tremendous confidence in our ability to bring Einstein Bros. to more communities, serve more guests and continue to define the future of the bagel category."
Einstein Bros. is part of Panera Brands, whose other chains include Panera Bread and Caribou Coffee.