Newsom Donor Says His Panera Bread Locations Will Comply With Minimum Wage Law

The wage hike will start April 1 regardless of whether the brand is exempt from the law, said Greg Flynn, who owns 24 Panera restaurants in California.

Customers enter a Panera Bread restaurant in Novato, Calif., on Nov. 1, 2023. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A billionaire restaurant mogul and Gov. Gavin Newsom donor said March 5 that the Panera Bread establishments he owns across the Golden State will pay employees the minimum wage of $20 per hour established by the state’s recent fast-food restaurant law.

Controversy arose last week regarding whether Panera Bread would be exempt from the new law.