ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread Company has reported its systemwide comparable bakery-café sales increased 1.2 percent for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 25, 2007.
Revenue increased 29 percent to $301 million for the four-week period ended Dec. 25, 2007, from $233 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.
The company estimates that its systemwide comparable bakery-café sales in the fourth quarter were lower than expected by approximately 1 to 1.2 percent because of extreme weather experienced in its core markets.
During the fourth quarter of 2007, 64 new bakery-cafés were opened (39 company-owned and 25 franchise-operated) and two franchise-operated bakery-cafés were closed.
The company plans to report fourth-quarter 2007 earnings after the market close Feb. 12, 2008. The company will discuss the results in a call that will be broadcast on the Internet at 8:30 a.m. EST Feb. 13, 2008. Go to http://www.panerabread.com/investor to access the call or view the release (when issued). Access to the call and the release will be archived for one year.
