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Panera takes points-based MyPanera loyalty program nationwide after pilot

Panera's loyalty overhaul coincides with a new advertising campaign called "Refreshingly Loyal," featuring actress and comedian Keke Palmer. The campaign uses humor around the concept of "loyalty," building toward a reveal that ties the theme back to the MyPanera program.

August 19, 2026 by Cherryh Cansler — Publisher, FastCasual.com

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Panera Bread is rolling out a redesigned, points-based version of its MyPanera loyalty program nationwide Wednesday, following a pilot the company ran earlier this year in select markets.

The chain tested the points-based system starting in late January in Dallas before expanding to Chicago, Denver, Seattle and Wyoming, covering roughly 216 cafes and about 4 million members. Panera said the wider rollout, which now extends the new structure to all of its more than 70 million MyPanera members, builds on that test and is designed to make earning and redeeming rewards simpler.

Under the new system, members earn 10 points for every dollar spent and can put those points toward menu items of their choosing, rather than working through a fixed rewards structure. Redemption options range from 250 points for a bagel or small bakery item up to 2,000 points for a full entree. Panera said points earned under the previous program will carry over for members as they begin accumulating points under the new system.

The relaunch introduces three membership tiers.

1. The base MyPanera tier remains free to join through the Panera app.
2. A second tier, MyPanera+, is available to guests who spend $300 or more in a calendar year and includes perks such as a free birthday You Pick Two meal and bonus points on delivery orders.
3. A third tier, MyPanera+ Sip Club, builds on those benefits with up to 30 beverages per month, along with periodic "Sip Club Saturday" offers.

To mark the launch, Panera is offering new and existing MyPanera members 500 bonus points on their first purchase made between Wednesday and Sept. 1 — enough for a free Energy Refresher or Fresca, according to the company. The offer is limited to one redemption per member and excludes catering orders, third-party delivery platforms, gift card purchases, Panera at Home retail products and Sip Club subscription fees, among other exclusions detailed in the promotion's terms.

Panera also began exclusive rollout of a new Tropical Mango Pineapple Energy Refresher for MyPanera members Wednesday, available only through the company's app.

Refreshingly loyal

The loyalty overhaul coincides with a new advertising campaign called "Refreshingly Loyal," featuring actress and comedian Keke Palmer. The campaign uses humor around the concept of "loyalty," building toward a reveal that ties the theme back to the MyPanera program.

"From everyday favorites to exclusive offers, we have reimagined MyPanera to deliver more value with every purchase," Joshua Fine, Panera's chief digital officer, said in a company press release, adding that the redesign was built around guest feedback calling for more transparency, better rewards and greater choice.

The relaunch is part of Panera's broader RISE transformation strategy.

The company operated 2,251 bakery-cafes in 48 states, Washington, D.C., and Ontario, Canada, as of July 28, under the Panera Bread and Saint Louis Bread Co. names. Panera Bread is a division of Panera Brands, which also owns Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels.

About Cherryh Cansler

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Cherryh Cansler is Publisher of FastCasual.com and Vice President of Connect Food. She has been covering the restaurant industry since 2012. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, The Kansas City Star and American Fitness magazine, among many others.

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