Hannah's was founded by Florian Pfahler in 2004 with the objective to be the first fast casual sandwich maker to focus on organic ingredients, whole grain nutrition and environmentally friendly business practices.

2004
Hannah's was founded by Florian Pfahler. After six years in New York working as the Marketing Director for an internet firm, Florian Pfahler moved to Chicago in 1998 to join Leo Burnett Advertising.

Shortly thereafter he set foot into a Whole Foods Market and immediately was struck by the enticing concept. It is based on the belief that the US market experiences a long-term lifestyle shift towards healthier living focused on three main areas; the way we eat, the way we exercise and the way we treat disease. Whole Foods is a major part of that trend and Hannah's is the first fast casual sandwich maker to service that growing consumer segment.

2005
Hannah's opened the first location at 180 W. Washington Street in the downtown Loop in Chicago at the height of the Atkins diet.

We were first to offer all organic breads for our sandwiches. We also were first to offer all organic salad and soup as well as organic coffee, espresso and tea beverages with organic milk, soy and organic sweeteners.

2006
We use a bicycle and a Mini Cooper for catering deliveries, a first in the Chicago market.

Hannah's is first to introduce biodegradable packaging by NatureWorks covering about 30 percent of our packaging needs. We become a trans fats free operation by eliminating any retail items that contained trans fats.

None of Hannah's prepared foods ever contained trans fats.

2007
Hannah's opens the second location at 233 N. Michigan Avenue at the Illinois Center. It is the first LEED (Leadership in Environmental and Energy Efficient Design) certified Quick Service Restaurant in Chicago.

We expand our biodegradable line of packaging to cover 70 percent of our packaging needs and eliminate all plastic bags from our operation.

2008
Hannah's is awarded the prestigious Chicago Magazine Green Award for outstanding environmental contributions in the retail segment.

Over 90 percent of our retail and catering packaging is now biodegradable or recycled.

Hannah's becomes a founding member of the Chicago Green Restaurant Association to increase awareness for restaurants to become operationally more environmentally friendly.

Hannah's is covered by Zagat and receives the highest rating for any sandwich based business in the Chicago area.

2009
We buy our second bicycle, the ultimate low emission vehicle.

We are first to offer a 95+ percent organic dessert line from our chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies, blondies, brownies, health seed+grain bar to our apple, banana and blueberry bread. It is all organic and freshly baked, daily.

Hannah's introduces a 100 percent recycled, 95 percent post consumer small shopping bag for it's customers who make larger purchases in the store and switch to cloth delivery bags.

We join the Chicago Organic Restaurant Association to improve the supply and price stability of organic foods.

Hannah's joins the Hospitality Industry Advisory Group of the City of Chicago to help make restaurants in Chicago greener and more energy efficient.