Kenneth “Ken” Rosenthal, founder of the company that later became known as Panera Bread, has passed away. He was 81.

Kenneth “Ken” Rosenthal, who founded the company that later became Panera Bread, died on Friday, Feb. 14. He was 81.

Panera Bread founder Ken Rosenthal passed away on Friday at the age of 81. He was surrounded by family and leaves behind his wife, Linda “Laya” Rosenthal, and their four children.

Services were held Monday morning at Aish of The Rockies in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Panera is a renowned bakery-cafe chain founded by Ken Rosenthal (Kenneth Rosenthal), who passed away recently at the age of ...