Billionaire donor to Newsom and Panera Bread franchise owner said he’ll raise California minimum wage for staff

A Panera Bread franchise owner in California who is a major donor to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) said he plans to increase staff wages after backlash over an apparent exemption from the state’s new minimum wage.

Last year, Newsom signed a law that would require the minimum wage for California-based fast-food workers at chains with 60 or more locations nationwide to be raised from $16 an hour to $20 an hour, beginning in April. However, there was an exemption for restaurants that have on-site bakeries and sell bread as a stand-alone menu item, which would apply to Panera franchises.