Pumpkin LTOs still boosting traffic

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Although Thursday marked the first official day of fall, restaurants around the world didn't wait to launch their pumpkin-flavored LTOs with good reason.

Panera Bread giving loyalty members more control over rewards

September 20, 2022

Panera Bread has enhanced its MyPanera Loyalty Program by allowing members to select their rewards from multiple options as opposed to a single, pre-selected…

Panera testing CarPay

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

September 8, 2022

Panera Bread is testing CarPlay in some stores, allowing loyalty members with iPhones to access the Panera app to place an order from their car dashboards.

Panera testing AI at the drive-thru

September 7, 2022

Panera Bread is testing AI technology in drive-thru lanes in an effort to improve and enhance the guest experience.

Panera appoints CFO

August 12, 2022

Panera Brands Inc., which includes Panera Bread as well as Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Brands, has hired Konrad Meyer as chief financial officer to…

Fast Casual Hall of Fame inductees include Fazoli's, Panera Bread, Native Brand leaders

Fazoli's former CEO Carl Howard, Native Foods CEO Carin Stutz and Blaine Hurst, former Panera Bread CEO, make up the inaugural class of the Fast Casual Hall of…

Panera's IPO plans on hold

July 1, 2022

Panera Brands is putting its IPO plans on hold, citing "the deterioration of the market for initial public offerings over the past several months."

Panera customers 'charging up' on longest day of year

June 15, 2022

The longest day of the year — June 21— is the beginning of the "Summer Slump," a phrase coined for the season where over 25% of workers feel a decline in…

Panera launches 1st ‘Panera To Go’ digital-only café

June 10, 2022

Panera Bread's first Panera To Go, a digital-only café focused on off premise dining, is up and running in Chicago.

Panera hires chief legal officer

May 2, 2022

Panera Bread has hired Marlene M. Gordon as SVP and chief legal officer. With over 20 years of industry experience, Gordon joins Panera from Fresh Del Monte…

Panera launches subscription for unlimited self-service drinks

April 19, 2022

Panera has launched the Unlimited Sip Club, a nationwide unlimited beverage subscription for all self-serve beverages, according to a company press release.

Panera testing coffee robot

April 12, 2022

Panera Bread is the first brand to test CookRight Coffee, created by Miso Robotics, the company behind Flippy, a burger-flipping robot.

Panera launching chicken sandwiches

March 22, 2022

Panera will be the latest chain to enter the so-called Chicken Sandwich Wars next week when it launches two chicken sandwiches, the "Signature Take" and the…

Panera Bread Foundation helping underserved, at-risk children

March 2, 2022

Panera Bread has refreshed the mission of its Panera Bread Foundation to "support and strengthen communities by investing in underserved and at-risk children…

4 technologies that can help manage labor shortages

by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com

Restaurants hoping to keep up staffing levels must pay more, which means cutting food and labor costs. Automating kitchen tasks, transforming customer phones…

Panera rolling out contactless dine-in

February 1, 2022

Panera is rolling out contactless dine-in to locations across the United States. The feature in the Panera mobile app allows guests to place orders on their…

Panera taps Radar to boost digital ordering

December 15, 2021

Radar, a geofencing platform, will help fast casual chain Panera Bread accelerate the digital transformation of Panera's next-generation cafe design to help…

Panera, Tik Toker reveal ugly holiday cups

December 8, 2021

Move over, ugly holiday sweaters, and make room for ugly cups.

Panera launches first 'next-generation' cafe

November 23, 2021

Panera has chosen Ballwin, Missouri, as the home of its first "next-generation" restaurant design. Featuring a modern dine-in experience around its fireplace…

Panera Brands partnering with Danny Meyer

November 9, 2021

Danny Meyer is joining the team at Panera Brands, which includes Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels.