Panera Bread exempt from following Californiaā€™s new $20 minimum wage law due to relationship with Gov. Newsom: reports - eviltoast

Panera Bread is exempt from following one of Californiaā€™s newest laws, according to multiple reports. The new law will raise fast-food workersā€™ minimum wage to $20 per hour and will take effect beginning April 1.

The new law doesnā€™t recognize places that operate ā€œa bakery that produces for sale on the establishmentā€™s premises breadā€ as fast food, according to the lawā€™s text.

Why the line was drawn at bread remains unclear.

However, Newsom pushed for the exemption, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. One of the primary beneficiaries of the exemption is Greg Flynn, a billionaire and longtime Newsom donor who has two dozen Panera Bread locations in California.