ST. LOUIS – April 16 ,2025 –Panera Bread is once again redefining the meal experience with the launch of its innovative Croissant Toast sandwiches. Starting April 16th, the Croissant Toast Sandwiches headline a spring lunch and dinner menu refresh that also features the introduction of new menu items including the Strawberry Chicken Caprese Salad. The menu also features the return of perennial guest favorites Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad and Mexican Street Corn Chowder at Panera® cafes nationwide.

The stars of the spring lineup, the Croissant Toast Sandwiches feature a sandwich bread made from croissant dough, which elevates the sandwich experience with toasty, buttery swirls and satisfying crunch. Guests can choose from two varieties for a limited time:

• Croque Monsieur Croissant Toast: Black Forest ham, melty provolone and asiago cheeses, and a caramelized onion and gruyere spread come together to make a ham and cheese sandwich that is completely reimagined.
• Fromage Croissant Toast: Melty provolone and American cheeses, caramelized onions, arugula, and garlic aioli transform a simple classic into something extraordinary.

“Our new Croissant Toasts are an innovative gamechanger for our sandwich menu. These unique sandwiches are curated with an all-butter, flaky croissant sliced bread, delivering a truly delicious product and experience like nothing Panera has had on its menu before,” said Scott Uehlein, Vice President of Culinary, Panera Bread. “Its amazing appearance isonly surpassed by its taste – a  perfect balance of a crisp crust and buttery, layered interior that makes these menu items truly special. It’s everything our guests love about croissants and sandwiches made into two irresistible offerings.”

This exciting lunch and dinner menu innovation is supported by Panera’s reenergized brand platform, "It Just Meals Good™," celebrating the meals that make Panera the perfect choice for any mood, and the various life moments and connections that make each meal truly meaningful. From sharing lunch with friends to enjoying a peaceful moment alone in the car, Panera’s menu is designed to meet the needs of any moment - and any meal.

“Panera is focused on serving high-quality, craveable food that fits every moment of our guests’ lives, and our new spring menu delivers everything from exciting innovation in our new Croissant Toast Sandwiches to delightful, familiar comfort with the return of our seasonal favorites,” said Mark Shambura, Chief Marketing Officer at Panera Bread. “With our new brand platform, ‘It Just Meals Good™,’ we are bringing energy, confidence and a renewed focus on what makes Panera unique while leaning into our heritage. We are going beyond our menu and celebrating the power of a meal that is special and worth savoring – and the best thing is our guests get to decide exactly what that means for them in the moment.”

About Panera Brands

Panera Brands is one of the world’s largest fast-casual restaurant platforms, with more than 3,700 company and franchised locations and approximately 120,000 system employees across 11 countries. A portfolio of complementary brands bound by common values and shared growth opportunities, Panera Brands is comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros. Brands. Panera Brands companies are independently operated and underpinned by industry leading technology, loyalty and high-quality ingredients. Panera Bread is a pioneer and market leader in fast casual, with leadership in ingredient quality, omnichannel access, digital convenience (nearly 60% of sales are ecommerce as of March 2025) and engagement (more than 64 million MyPanera loyalty members as of March 2025).

As of March 4, 2025, there were nearly 2,200 bakery-cafes, company and franchise, in 48 states and Washington D.C., and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names. Einstein Bros. Brands, consisting of Einstein Bros. Bagels®, Bruegger’s Bagels®, Noah’s New York Bagels® and Manhattan Bagel® is a market leader in bagels and bagel sandwiches operating more than 700 units (excluding 277 licensed units) across the US. Caribou Coffee provides high-quality, handcrafted coffee-forward beverages and craveable food options, with more than 800 coffeehouses in 11 countries.

Media Contact

Panera Brands

Jess Hesselschwerdt

press@panerabread.com