Continuing to Support our Communities in 2021

 

Updated on February 3, 2021 12:00 PM

 

As the year mark on COVID-19 approaches in the United States, we remain committed to our belief that good food should be accessible to all, and firm in our support of those working to combat the virus.  This January, the Panera Bread Foundationvcontinued its fight against hunger by donating nearly 400,000 bowls of chicken noodle soup to help those in need, and we’re continuing to donate ingredients from our supply chain to Feeding America, as well as implement our Day-End Dough-nation® program at company bakery-cafes.

 

As so many people work to help vaccinate our country, Panera is excited to match new board member Scott Galloway’s generous donation to give back to frontline vaccination healthcare workers.  On Monday, February 1, together, Galloway and Panera will donate $200,000 in the form of Panera gift cards to hospitals and clinics to distribute to those working in our network of hospitals across the nation. 

 

 

Update on Masks in Bakery-Cafes

 

Updated on July 15, 2020 12:00 PM

 

As the situation surrounding COVID-19 evolves, we are continually evaluating and adapting our health and safety measures, taking into consideration the health and safety of our associates, guests and the communities we serve as our highest priority.

 

 With this in mind, beginning Wednesday, July 15, Panera guests are asked to wear a mask inside our bakery-cafes nationwide. To continue to take the safety of our associates and guests into consideration, masks are now required at all times, except when seated, eating and drinking.   

 

If guests are not wearing a mask, we will happily serve them via Panera Curbside, Delivery, both accessed via the Panera app or website, or Drive-Thru.

 

 

Re-Opening to Limited Access and Safely Serving Our Guests

 

Updated on May 29, 2020 12:00 PM

 

As cities and states begin the process of reopening, we are thinking critically about when and how your local Panera will play a part. The  events of the past few months have changed much about our world and our business, but our top priority has remained clear throughout – the safety of our associates, guests and the communities we serve.

 

Now more than ever, we want to help make good eating accessible to all. We are taking a phased approach to re-opening Panera locations guided by a detailed set of brand standards as well as the guidance of our federal, state and local governments as we look ahead to welcoming guests back  into our bakery-cafes.

 

Your local bakery-cafes will continue to  transition towards opening on a rolling basis all while maintaining  strict safety measures and social distancing – starting with moving from curbside service only to limited access, welcoming guests back inside  our doors for Rapid Pick-Up and To-Go orders, and over time our outdoor  and indoor dining areas will get back up and running with enhanced protocols in place. While the timeline and process for each Panera  location will vary, a significant part of this process will be the changes that help keep everyone safe and healthy. Some of these updates, which you’ll see at your local bakery-cafe in the coming weeks, include:

 

- Options for your Panera favorites, including Panera Curbside and  Delivery

 

- Enhanced cleaning and handwashing procedures in all bakery-cafes

 

- Plexiglass barriers in Panera cafes + drive-thrus

 

- Protective masks distributed to and worn by all associates

 

- Hand sanitizer available in all bakery-cafes at the entryway

 

- Social distancing measures clearly articulated in each bakery-cafe with signage / floor decals

 

- Daily pre-shift wellness checks for all associates, which include an on-site temperature check

 

- Ongoing installations of anti-microbial coverings for each of our Kiosk screens

 

- Drink cups and condiments stored behind our counter

 

 

We are actively planning and working towards opening dining rooms across  company and franchise bakery-cafes and we will ensure our plan for each  Panera bakery-cafe is compliant and in line with federal, state and local guidance as we enter this new phase.

 

The entire Panera Family is looking forward to welcoming you back. As always, our approach is rooted in safety, and we look forward to serving you at your second home soon.

 

Panera partners with USDA and Children’s Hunger Alliance to provide meals in Ohio  

    Updated March 27, 2020 6:00 PM  

Today, Panera announced a partnership with the Children’s Hunger Alliance (CHA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide freshly prepared and wholesome meals to children in need in the state of Ohio.  In partnership with its local franchise partners, Panera is leveraging its supply chain and bakery-cafes to provide ready-to-eat, freshly prepared meals to CHA for children vulnerable to hunger across the state during this time of crisis.  Panera is also working with the USDA to scale this model with other states across the nation.

“At Panera, we believe that good food should be accessible to all.  This belief is central to our culture and our mission,” said Niren Chaudhary, Panera CEO.  “Today, more than ever, it is clear to us that access to nutritious food is an undeniable right—especially to those most vulnerable such as children during this time of crisis.  We are grateful for the opportunity to support our communities.”

The Panera-provided CHA meals include a menu of five different clean, wholesome choices from salad to sandwiches and veggie snack boxes including a new whole grain bread. All these meals are balanced per USDA guidance to include dairy, lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. These meals are being offered at extreme discount to align with current USDA school food prices.

 

The Panera and CHA meal partnership will kick off in Ohio on April 6th. As the need continues to grow across the nation, the Panera teams also stand ready to assist other states and communities.  Panera is encouraging in-need non-profits or state government to contact the company at schoolmeals@panerabread.com.   

 

“This is our Panera family in action,” Chaudhary said. “They are our associates, guests and communities, working together as only they can to help those facing hunger during this challenging time. While always making the health, safety and overall well-being of our family a top priority, Panera will do its best to help the hungry in this time of need.” 

 

Supporting our communities

Updated March 20, 2020 4:00 PM

 

At Panera, the health and wellbeing of our family, and yours, is our top priority. We’ve been monitoring the impact of COVID -19 closely and are focused on making sure our associates put their health first and foremost as we face this situation together, as well as taking a series of proactive steps to protect our associates, guests and communities as we continue to serve you.

 

We have also been working diligently to honor our belief that good food should be available to all, in finding the best way to provide meals to those facing food scarcity during this global health crisis.

 

As a first step to doing what we can to support our communities, we’re partnering with Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, making a financial donation as well as offering our kitchens and resources to aid in infrastructure support to help ease the burden placed on so many families across our country. To help #ChefsForAmerica provide meals nationwide, we’re supporting World Central Kitchen serve at scale in those cities with the most critical demand right now.

 

We also know, as a restaurant company, that we can help make an impact by mobilizing our supply chain to donate excess food as we all work together in this time of crisis.  We are working across our supply partners and vendors, making donations to Feeding America to help get food in the hands of people who need it most.

 

If you’re looking for a way to help, we invite you to share in this mission with us by donating to World Central Kitchen, Feeding America or your local food bank—every little bit helps.

 

Continuing to serve our guests via a “to go” model

 

Updated March 19, 2020 9:00 AM

 

 

As we continue to respond to the rapidly-evolving situation surrounding COVID-19, what we care about the most is the health and safety of the entire Panera Family, and that includes you. Over the past few weeks, we’ve taken a series of proactive steps to protect our communities in accordance with the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO, local health departments and medical experts.

Now, following the CDC’s recommendations around social distancing, all of our company-owned cafes are moving strictly to a “to go” model across all Panera bakery-cafes nationwide. This means we will continue to serve you via To-Go, Rapid Pick Up™, Drive Thru and Delivery, but we have stopped all dine-in service at company cafes as of close of business Wednesday, March 18. Here are some more details:

 

For the time being, we will not be offering the option to sit or dine-in at any of our company restaurants

 

You can still order Panera for To Go, Rapid Pick-Up®, Drive Thru, and Delivery via the Panera App and Website.  We are following all local ordinances and guidelines and continuing to be proactive about sanitization in our bakery-cafes.

 

Mindful Packaging: To-go bags for all orders will now be sealed shut to further protect your meal

 

Social Distancing Guidelines: We are working to implement a social distancing policy within our cafes and are adhering to all governmental regulations regarding occupancy or entry into our bakery-cafes

 

This is a rapidly changing situation, and we are committed to evolving our business over the next few weeks to provide updates as things change. In moments like this, it is so critical that we all come together. Our mission is to create One Panera for a healthier and happier world and, for us, One Panera means our associates, customers, franchise family, the communities in which we live and work, our supply partners and our shareholders. We love being your second home, and appreciate your patience as we keep the health and safety of our family, and yours—as our top priority. We also look forward to serving you in our home again as soon as it is safe to do so.

 

A message to our Panera family on COVID-19

 

Updated March 13, 2020 10:00 AM

 

 

Our Panera Family is just that—a family made up of associates, guests and the communities we serve. The health, safety and overall wellbeing of our family, and yours, is always our top priority.

 

With this in mind, we have been closely monitoring the rapidly-changing situation around COVID-19 (commonly referred to as coronavirus), responding to new information as it arises and preparing for all possible scenarios, with the goal of continuing to safely serve you in our bakery-cafes.

 

In addition to following the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and local health departments, we are regularly consulting top medical experts as we implement our response. Out of an abundance of caution, we have taken the following steps beyond our usual high standards:

 

• We prepared our associates and re-emphasized existing sanitation and illness policies, including frequent and proper handwashing, and our practices regarding wearing and changing of gloves

 

• We have implemented enhanced protocols for cleaning and sanitizing our bakery-cafes, including cleaning more frequently and adding additional cleanings with peroxide solution in high-touchpoint locations.

 

• We’ve emphasized what associates can do to keep themselves and others safe, including not touching one’s face, and staying home if sick.

 

• We have developed enhanced procedures to assess our associates’ fitness to return to work, risk of exposure after all personal travel, and have restricted air and rail travel

 

Additional Security Measures

 

Be assured we will do everything we can to continue to serve our guests safely and will closely follow the guidance of the CDC and local health officials. We are also in the process of implementing additional measures, including:

 

• Adding hand sanitizer stands in all of our bakery-cafes, to be installed as they arrive over the coming weeks

 

• Adding antimicrobial covers for our Fast Lane Kiosks, to be installed as soon as they arrive

 

• Modifying operations when needed to be able to continue to serve you. At times, this may mean we limit our service to Rapid Pick-Up®, Delivery or Drive-Thru only.

 

We also have procedures in place to temporarily close Panera bakery-cafes for deep cleanings if required to protect the safety of our customers and associates. We will always follow the guidance of local health officials as we continue to manage this community by community.

 

Finally, we are focused on making sure our associates can put their health first and foremost as we face this situation together. We are implementing an emergency PTO policy which will help ensure that our associates are able to stay home if they are sick or diagnosed with COVID-19.

 

We are working tirelessly to do what’s best for everyone who visits and works in our bakery-cafes. We are proud to be your second home, and look forward to seeing you again soon.

 

For the most current information on COVID-19, including government health guidelines, visit:
cdc.gov
internationalsos.com
who.int