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Top 100: Restaurants - Panera Bread

Panera Bread is featured as number 28 on 2014's Top 100: Movers & Shakers.

February 15, 2015

Panera Bread is featured as number 28 on 2014's Top 100: Movers and Shakers.

There’s no question that Panera Bread is one of the industry’s biggest players, with its 1,777 bakery-cafés in 45 states and Canada, operating under the Panera Bread, Saint Louis Bread Co. or Paradise Bakery & Cafe names. And the chain isn’t slowing down, according to Mandy Burns, who said plans call for opening 115 to 125 locations systemwide in 2014. 

Part of Panera’s success stems from quickly embracing new food trends. For example, to better serve customers looking for an alternative to white flour, the chain now offers a sprouted-grain bagel made with rye, spelt and oat groats. Last year, it launched a “hidden menu,” featuring foods full of protein and low processed-carb items, that customers could order from only if they previously knew about its existence. Options included a Power Breakfast Egg White Bowl with Roasted Turkey and a Power Breakfast Egg Bowl with Steak. 

Although menu innovation is key at Panera, its dedication to social responsibility also keeps customers and employees returning to the cafés. Besides operating a couple Panera Cares locations, where all food orders are free and rely on customer donations, the chain also has several other programs to help feed the hungry. At the end of each day, for example, Panera donates all unsold bread and baked goods to local hunger-relief agencies and charities as part of its local Day-End Dough- Nation program. Collectively, Panera bakery- cafés donated a retail value of about $100 million of unsold bread and baked goods in 2012.