Assistant Manager

Caribou Coffee adds new Chief Operations Officer, transforms role. Published September 2, 2026 Experienced field leader brings broad operational expertise and enhanced frontline focus to Caribou. MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Sept. 2, 2026 - Caribou Coffee, the national operator of premium coffeehouses, announced today the appointment of Zane Thomas-Rogers as Chief Operations Officer. The role will bring a greater focus on coffeehouse operations and excellence as warehouse management and logistics now fall under the supervision of Caribou's supply chain team. The move follows senior leadership additions over the past year in finance, marketing, real estate development, supply chain and technology, as well as the company's first Chief Commercial Officer, Matt Reiter. Thomas-Rogers joins Caribou Coffee with a strong background in leading large, complex, multi-unit restaurant operations. He was most recently with Raising Cane's and steps into the Chief Operating Officer role being vacated by John Walbrun. Walbrun announced his retirement recently, after more than eight years - a period that saw the company expand coffeehouse operations in the U.S., particularly in southeastern states, as well as the opening of a new, larger warehouse facility. Walbrun will stay at Caribou in a strategic advisor role for the next few months to help with the transition. "We are evolving the Caribou organization to be flatter, with leaders who bring true subject matter expertise and are very hands-on with their teams" said Scott Kennedy, CEO, Caribou Coffee. "As part of our plan to deliver a consistent exceptional guest experience, maintain product excellence, and to grow our business in a smart, measured way, we've sharpened the way we think about our Chief Operations Officer role. Zane will bring an enhanced, field-centric approach, utilizing his proven operational expertise and leadership to ensure the strategic decisions we make at our Support Center positively impact and improve what we do in every coffeehouse and cup we serve. He also has a reputation as a steady, team-first and collaborative leader - all qualities that fit perfectly with our culture and how we run our business." Thomas-Rogers brings more than 15 years' experience leading large, complex operations for major, company-owned and franchised restaurant brands. He has a successful track record of developing high-performing, supportive teams and bringing a data-led approach to operational decision-making - both critical as Caribou continues to invest in elevating the guest experience and technology that improves efficiency across the business. "I could feel the momentum at Caribou from my earliest meetings with Scott and his team," said Zane Thomas-Rogers, Chief Operations Officer. "But then, attending our annual conference, BouCon, to hear the strategic plans already underway and spending a few weeks in coffeehouses with our managers and teams, I saw a companywide energy as we double down on exceptional guest experience and product quality. So, it's a really exciting time to be taking the operational reigns." About Caribou Coffee. Caribou Coffee serves high-quality handcrafted beverages and crave-worthy food in more than 800 coffeehouses worldwide. Since opening its first location in 1992, Caribou Coffee Company has been committed to building personal connections in every experience. This desire drives its dedication to supporting its communities and crafting menu items with premium ingredients like specialty-grade coffee and real chocolate chips in its handcrafted beverages. Focused on smart growth, Caribou Coffee Company operate and franchise coffeehouses across 11 countries, with the purpose of creating day-making experiences that spark a chain reaction of good. Caribou Coffee is part of Panera Brands, alongside Panera Bread(R) and Einstein Bros.(R) Bagels. To learn more, visit cariboucoffee.com, follow Caribou Coffee on social media, or download the Caribou Coffee app to join Caribou Perks and start earning rewards.

Caribou Coffee announces fall menu lineup. Aug 18 2026 Guests can order seasonal beverages, food offerings and merchandise in multiple ways, including in-store, at the drive-thru and through the Caribou Coffee app for pickup or delivery. Fall flavors have arrived at Caribou Coffee as they welcome back one of their most anticipated menu launches of the year. The premium coffeehouse brand is excited to announce its official fall menu lineup featuring returning pumpkin and Honeycrisp apple fan-favorites joined by new seasonal innovations. Launching Thursday, Aug. 20 at participating locations nationwide, the limited-time menu celebrates the comforts of the season through an expansive assortment of beverages, food offerings, packaged coffee and seasonal merchandise. The fall menu features the iconic flavors of pumpkin and Honeycrisp apple across a variety of go-to classics that have become part of many guests' seasonal traditions. For those looking to branch out from their go-to fall beverages, Caribou has introduced new items to the menu including Honeycrisp Cold Foam, perfect on an Iced Caramel Latte but can be added to any beverage for a touch of orchard-inspired sweetness, as well as a coffeeless Frozen Caramel Apple beverage that is a cool and creamy twist on a nostalgic fall treat. "Every fall, we look forward to welcoming guests back with flavors that feel familiar while giving them something new to discover," said Carrie Sazama, Director of Product, Caribou Coffee. "Alongside the return of the pumpkin beverages guests know and love, we continued to build on the success of Honeycrisp apple by introducing new ways to experience it across both coffee and non-coffee offerings.The result is a menu that gives guests even more ways to make Caribou part of their favorite fall traditions." Pumpkin favorites worth coming back for: * Pumpkin White Mocha: White chocolate melted into steamed milk and combined with espresso and real pumpkin; topped with whipped cream and white chocolate chips. Available hot or iced. * Pumpkin Espresso Shaker: Real pumpkin and fresh espresso shaken with ice and topped with a splash of oatmilk. * Iced White Mocha with Pumpkin Cold Foam: White chocolate, espresso and milk served over ice and topped with pumpkin cold foam made with real pumpkin puree. * Pumpkin Latte: Real pumpkin with espresso and steamed milk; topped with ground nutmeg and served hot or over ice. * Pumpkin Crafted Cold Brew (formerly Pumpkin Crafted Press): Cold-brewed coffee served over ice with a splash of milk, real sugar and a hint of real pumpkin. Also available blended or hot. * Pumpkin Chai Latte: Chai tea latte made with real pumpkin and topped with ground nutmeg, served hot or over ice. * Pumpkin Caribou Cooler Blended Beverage: Coffee blended with ice and real pumpkin; topped with whipped cream. A taste of the orchard with Honeycrisp apple beverages: * Iced Caramel Latte with Honeycrisp Cold Foam (NEW): Caramel, espresso and milk served over ice and topped with Honeycrisp apple cold foam. * Frozen Caramel Apple (NEW): Real caramel and Honeycrisp apple blended with ice, half-and-half and Caribou's signature shake mix; topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle. * Honeycrisp Apple Caramel Espresso Shaker: Real caramel sauce, Honeycrisp apple and fresh espresso shaken with ice and topped with a splash of oatmilk. * Honeycrisp Apple Caramel High Rise Latte: Real caramel sauce, Honeycrisp apple and espresso combined with steamed milk and topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle. Enjoy it hot or iced. * Honeycrisp Apple Energy: A sparkling energy drink featuring flavors of Honeycrisp apple, available in original or lemonade varieties. * Honeycrisp Apple Caramel High Rise Caribou Cooler Blended Beverage: Coffee blended with ice, real caramel sauce and Honeycrisp apple; topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle. * Honeycrisp Apple Caramel Oatmilk Steamer: Real caramel and Honeycrisp apple combined with steamed oatmilk and finished with whipped cream and caramel drizzle. * Honeycrisp Apple Nitro High Rise: Nitro cold brew combined with milk, real caramel sauce and Honeycrisp apple; topped with espresso whipped cream. Sweet and savory pairings for every sip * French Toast Sandwich: A sweet-and-savory breakfast sandwich layered with fluffy cage-free scrambled eggs, savory sausage, cheddar cheese and cream cheese nestled between slices of golden French toast bread. * Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin: A cozy bakery treat featuring real pumpkin, a creamy center of sweet cream cheese frosting and a finishing touch of cinnamon sugar. * Apple Cinnamon Pastry: A flaky, buttery pastry filled with a warm Honeycrisp apple cinnamon filling. Packaged coffee and seasonal merchandise The fall season also brings the return of limited-time packaged coffee and a collection of autumn-inspired merchandise. Guests can enjoy Guatemala Single Origin packaged coffee, featuring notes of raspberry, cola and vanilla, alongside seasonal drinkware and merchandise designed to celebrate the flavors and colors of fall. Guests can order seasonal beverages, food offerings and merchandise in multiple ways, including in-store, at the drive-thru and through the Caribou Coffee app for pickup or delivery. To make every Caribou visit even more rewarding, guests can join Caribou Perks, where members earn points on eligible purchases year-round and redeem them for rewards including free beverages and food items. To join, visit cariboucoffee.com/caribou-perks or text "Perks" to 762-CARIBOU.

Caribou Coffee names Gene Komsky CFO. Jun 9 2026 Gene Komsky joins Caribou from Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants where he was Vice President of Finance. Caribou Coffee, the national operator of premium coffeehouses, today announced the appointment of Gene Komsky as Chief Financial Officer. The news follows former CFO Scott Kennedy's move to Chief Executive Officer in late 2025 and the addition of new executives in marketing, IT, supply chain and real estate development to better align teams with the company's vision and strategic priorities. Gene Komsky joins Caribou from Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants where he was Vice President of Finance. Komsky brings almost two decades of strategic finance leadership and broad experience driving financial planning and analysis (FP&A), corporate finance, and operational excellence across multi-unit and growth-stage businesses in both private equity-backed organizations and public companies. In his role as Chief Financial Officer at Caribou, he'll work closely with Kennedy and Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer Matt Reiter. "We took our time considering just the right balance of experience, skillset and leadership perspective for this important role in Caribou's future," said Kennedy. "Gene is the perfect addition to the team with both years of proven success in corporate finance at the highest levels, but also in the way he thinks - like a head of operations and a key member of the strategy team. That's the kind of integrated and seamless operating model we've been building at Caribou to help us to continue growing in a smart, strategic manner while also delivering exceptional experiences for guests and creating lasting value in the choices they make." Over his career, Komsky has held senior finance positions at XPO Logistics Inc, the worldwide freight logistics organization; food packaging leader Pactiv Evergreen, Inc., and Hexacomb Corporation, a manufacturer of paper packaging products and systems. "It's a pivotal time to be joining Caribou," said Komsky. "Scott and the leadership team have built a thoughtful strategy and strong foundation for the future. There's a clear roadmap in place to continue strengthening the brand, operations and guest experience. I'm particularly energized to join a team where finance plays a critical role in helping accelerate growth and support long-term value creation for the business and our guests." Komsky is a graduate of DePaul University where he gained a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing, and DePaul Driehaus College of Business, where he received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and Operations Management. He is in the process of relocating from Chicago to the Twin Cities with his wife and young son.