Q: In this task, you are given a text of many news articles seperated by special token "|||||". Your task is to summarize them.
FILE - In this May 2002 file photo, Panera Bread Co. CEO Ron Shaich stands behind a counter at a location in St. Louis. On Wednesday, April 5, 2017, Shaich said he plans to stay on as chief executive... (Associated Press) 
  
 FILE - In this May 2002 file photo, Panera Bread Co. CEO Ron Shaich stands behind a counter at a location in St. Louis. On Wednesday, April 5, 2017, Shaich said he plans to stay on as chief executive after the sale of his company. He added that customers shouldn’t see any changes as a result of the... (Associated Press) 
  
 NEW YORK (AP) — Panera Bread fans shouldn't see any changes as a result of the chain's sale, according to its founder and CEO, who is staying on as its leader. 
  
 The sale to JAB Holdings for more than $7 billion will allow management to focus on transformational efforts including the expansion of delivery and digital ordering, said CEO Ron Shaich. JAB also owns Peet's Coffee & Tea, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Keurig Green Mountain. Panera also said Wednesday that its sales rose 5.3 percent at established, company-owned locations in the first quarter, outperforming the broader restaurant industry. 
  
 Here's what Shaich had to say Wednesday morning in a phone interview after the deal was announced, lightly edited for length and clarity. 
  
 Q: How did this deal come about? 
  
 A: We weren't looking for this. Panera's on an extraordinary run. That performance has been because we always operated in the context of long-term strategy. (JAB) are people who share those values. 
  
 Many of these deals happen when people feel weak. We're doing this from a position of strength. 
  
 Q: Why is this deal good for customers? 
  
 A: I've been a public company CEO for over 20 years — longer than Cal Ripken played baseball. I spent 20 percent of that time explaining what I just did, and 20 percent of the time explaining what I'm about to do. 
  
 This is about competitive advantage. It gives us the ability to focus intensely on our strategic plan. 
  
 Q: What can people expect to change in Panera restaurants as a result of this deal? 
  
 A: JAB has got about 12 people in their holding company. They're long-term private investors, they're not operators. I would say you can expect nothing different. 
  
 Q: What's the biggest challenge for the restaurant industry right now? 
  
 A: I never talk about the industry. My job is building a competitive advantage for Panera, literally getting customers to walk past the competition. 
  
 Q: You also sold Au Bon Pain in 1999. Do you still stop in at Au Bon Pain restaurants and think about what you'd do differently? 
  
 A: The folks that run Au Bon Pain are very old friends. The CEO for many years is the woman who introduced me to my wife. I try to avoid commenting on friends. 
  
 Q: You're 63. How much longer do you think you'll stay on as CEO? 
  
 A: I'm here and I'm doing this. They'll need to carry me out with my boots on. 
  
 ___ 
  
 Follow Candice Choi at www.twitter.com/candicechoi ||||| FILE - In this March 8, 2010, file photo, an employee passes an order to a customer at a Panera Bread store in Brookline, Mass. Panera is being acquired by Europe’s JAB Holding Co. for more than $7 billion.... (Associated Press) 
  
 FILE - In this March 8, 2010, file photo, an employee passes an order to a customer at a Panera Bread store in Brookline, Mass. Panera is being acquired by Europe’s JAB Holding Co. for more than $7 billion. JAB is better known for the growing stable of brands it owns, including a controlling stake in... (Associated Press) 
  
 FILE - In this March 8, 2010, file photo, an employee passes an order to a customer at a Panera Bread store in Brookline, Mass. Panera is being acquired by Europe’s JAB Holding Co. for more than $7 billion. JAB is better known for the growing stable of brands it owns, including a controlling stake in... (Associated Press) FILE - In this March 8, 2010, file photo, an employee passes an order to a customer at a Panera Bread store in Brookline, Mass. Panera is being acquired by Europe’s JAB Holding Co. for more than $7 billion.... (Associated Press) 
  
 ST. LOUIS (AP) — Panera is being acquired by Europe's JAB Holding Co. for more than $7 billion. 
  
 JAB is better known for the growing stable of brands it owns or has a big stake in, including Peet's Coffee & Tea, Caribou Coffee Co., Stumptown Coffee and Keurig Green Mountain and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. 
  
 For days there have been rumors of a deal for Panera, with one of the companies reportedly interested being Starbucks Corp. 
  
 On Wednesday, the St. Louis sandwich and soup chain revealed that it was actually JAB, an investment fund based in Luxemburg that has quietly become a Starbucks rival. 
  
 "Our success for shareholders is the byproduct of our commitment to long-term decision making and operating in the interest of all stakeholders, including guests, associates, and franchisees," said Panera founder and CEO Ron Shaich. "We believe this transaction with JAB offers the best way to continue to operate with this approach. We are pleased to join with JAB, a private investor with an equally long-term perspective, as well as a deep commitment to our strategic plan." 
  
 Shaich opened a Boston cookie store in the early 1980s and expanded to more than 2,000 bakery-cafes with annual revenue of $5 billion in sales. 
  
 JAB will pay $315 per Panera Bread Co. share. That's a 14.5 percent premium to the company's Tuesday closing price of $274. 
  
 The transaction, which includes approximately $340 million of debt, is expected to close in the third quarter. It still needs the approval of Panera shareholders. Once the deal is complete, Panera will become privately held company. 
  
 Shares of Panera jumped more than 12 percent before the opening bell Wednesday. |||||
A:
Panera, meet Krispy Kreme. The sandwich-and-soup chain Panera is being acquired by Europe's JAB Holding for more than $7 billion, reports the AP. JAB is better known for the growing stable of brands it owns or has a big stake in, including Peet's Coffee & Tea, Caribou Coffee, Keurig Green Mountain, and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Rumors of a deal for Panera have been swirling for days, with Starbucks one of the companies reportedly interested. On Wednesday, the St. Louis chain revealed that it was actually JAB, an investment fund based in Luxemburg that has quietly become a Starbucks rival. In a separate Q&A with the AP, Panera founder and CEO Ron Shaich says that he plans to stay on as CEO and that customers should see no difference. Shaich opened a Boston cookie store in the early 1980s and expanded to more than 2,000 bakery-cafes with annual revenue of $5 billion in sales. JAB will pay $315 per Panera Bread Co. share. That's a 14.5% premium to the company's Tuesday closing price of $274. The transaction, which includes approximately $340 million of debt, is expected to close in the third quarter. It still needs the approval of Panera shareholders. Once the deal is complete, Panera will become a privately held company.