Could Minnesota's favorite coffee brand be on the move? No, not literally, but it appears the ownership group behind Caribou Coffee, as well as some other brands like Einstein's Bagels, is looking to sell off the 'bou.

According to Reuters, "Panera Brands is exploring a sale of Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros Bagels, as well as its other bagel brands, in a deal that could value the restaurant chains at more than $1.5 billion, according to people familiar with the matter."

The ownership group Panera Brands, is based in St. Louis but is part of a larger company known as JAB Holding Co out of Luxembourg, and what you just read from Reuters is all we know at this point.

When did Caribou get sold to a Luxembourg company?

Caribou has been a part of the Luxembourg company's holdings since 2012 when it was purchased for $340 million.

So it's been 'out-of-Minnesota' so to speak for a little longer than a decade, but if it's being shopped around maybe a local business or titan of industry will scoop it back up and bring it back home.

It's not the same ol' Caribou

Caribou since being sold to JAB Holding Co has added more than 200 new locations, bringing the number of total stores to more than 800, in parts of 11 different countries.

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Earlier this year Caribou sold off its roasting operations to the folks that own Peet's Coffee, could that be a possible new owner for the distinctly 'Sota' brand coffee? Who knows, but it does make some sense.

In the end if JAB Holding doesn't get an offer as high as they value the brand, it more than likely won't be sold, so hang on!

H/T Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal