More Than Just Breakfast: The Meaning Behind 200 Million Bagels
At Einstein Bros. Bagels, we bake over 200 million bagels a year. That’s a lot of Everything Bagels. A lot of Plain with Shmear. A lot of early mornings, quick lunches, and late-night snacks.
But here’s what those 200 million bagels really represent: millions of moments where people choose comfort, ritual, and a little bit of joy in their day.
Why Bagels Have Become America’s Go-To Comfort Food
For years, we’ve watched how Americans interact with bagels. A bagel isn’t just breakfast. It’s the thing you grab when you need five minutes of calm before the chaos starts. It’s the meal you “prep” on Monday that carries you through Wednesday. It’s the one food choice you don’t have to overthink.
Introducing the State of the Bagel Report
So, this year, in celebration of National Bagel Day on January 15, we decided to dig deeper. We surveyed* 1,000 Americans to understand not just what they eat, but why bagels have become such a meaningful part of their routines.
Welcome to the first-ever State of the Bagel Report. This is our look at how bagel culture reflects the way people are eating, living, and finding small moments of control in a world that doesn’t always feel controllable.
How to Celebrate National Bagel Day
On Thursday, January 15, we’re celebrating National Bagel Day by giving you the chance to create your own bagel moment. Mention “National Bagel Day” when you order and get a free Bagel & Shmear with any purchase.** Pick any fresh-baked bagel, pair it with any of our double-whipped shmears and make it yours!
*Survey Methodology: This survey was conducted online among 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, including those aged 65+. The survey was fielded December 13-18, 2025. The margin of error for a sample of this size is approximately ±3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
**Get a free Bagel with Shmear or topping with any purchase. Must mention National Bagel Day offer at check out. Offer valid 1/15/2026. Valid in-bakery only. Offer not available through catering or third-party delivery. Valid at participating locations only. Not valid at colleges, airports, hospitals, hotels, or military bases. May not be combined with any discounts, offers or promotions. One per customer, per day. Customer pays applicable taxes. No reproduction allowed. Cash value 1/100¢. ©Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved 2026.
