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Top 100: Panera Bread No. 29

29. Panera Bread St. Louis / No. of units: 1,421+ In a year of economic downturn, top player Panera Bread, acting through its nonprofit Panera Bread Foundation, opened its first two Panera Cares Cafés and announced plans to open a third. The goal of this charitable program is to ensure that everyone who needs a meal gets one. The stores do not charge customers for meals and guests are encouraged to take what they need and pay whatever they’d care to donate. There are no prices or cash registers, only suggested donation levels and donation bins. For Panera Bread, an increased ad spend and loyalty program are expected to increase transactions and fuel Panera’s growth in 2011.

January 15, 2012

29. Panera Bread

St. Louis / No. of units: 1,421+

In a year of economic downturn, top player Panera Bread, acting through its nonprofit Panera Bread Foundation, opened its first two Panera Cares Cafés and announced plans to open a third. The goal of this charitable program is to ensure that everyone who needs a meal gets one. The stores do not charge customers for meals and guests are encouraged to take what they need and pay whatever they’d care to donate. There are no prices or cash registers, only suggested donation levels and donation bins. For Panera Bread, an increased ad spend and loyalty program are expected to increase transactions and fuel Panera’s growth in 2011.