[2] La Madeleine Country French Café was founded in February 1983 by Patrick Esquerré, a Loire Valley-born businessman.

[2] In 2008, the company caused outrage after discontinuing the free side of bread after 20 years due to wheat costs, and started charging 49 cents.

However, the discontinuation was recalled three days later with the suggestion that customers not waste the food after La Madeleine allegedly received a "couple hundred responses...mostly complaints".

[2] In a news article regarding this, Esquerré called his resignation a regret and announced he was joining La Madeleine again as an ambassador/adviser, claiming he was even "going to be in the dishwashing room".

[11] Current President is Philippe Jean, French former CEO of the Del Arte brand, another sister company inside Le Duff Group in France.