thought:  I’ve always wanted to fuse my interests to learn more about sustainability and entrepreneurial efforts with my (super) love for bread.  Not a particularly new approach, but its success is inspirational and contributes to building momentum for more future good driven business models. (also a pretty exciting economics case study).

good:

Panera CEO Ronald Shaich opened up the first nonprofit branch of his 1,400-plus location restaurant chain in Clayton, Missouri, in 2010. At the time some thought his pay-what-you-want model, in which customers could simply take free food if they needed it, would be a disaster, especially in the midst of America’s hardest economy in decades. Early indications, however, were that Shaich’s idea, officially called the Panera Cares Community Café, might succeed. Now, one year later, people are certain: The free Panera is a hit.

Breaking Bread: Panera’s Pay-What-You-Want Model Is Thriving - Business - GOOD