ST. LOUIS, March 22, 2022 – Today, Panera is announcing new Chef’s Chicken Sandwiches, available at Panera bakery-cafes nationwide on March 30. The addition to the menu will feature two new seared, chef-crafted chicken sandwiches elevating even the highest of chicken sandwich expectations with each bite. To satisfy every craving, Panera is unveiling two takes on the Chef’s Chicken Sandwich: the “Signature Take” and the “Spicy Take.” Both handcrafted masterpieces will be available starting at $10.99;* and Panera is confident the combination of its chefs’ sandwich expertise along with high quality, Clean ingredients** is worth it, and its guests will agree.

Panera’s chefs aimed to redefine the traditional chicken sandwich, beginning with the sandwich’s centerpiece, the chicken itself. A juicy quarter pound of 100% all-white meat chicken breast filet is marinated with rich chicken flavor and seasoned with Panera’s signature spice blend. The filet is seared golden brown and then finished sous vide to lock in flavor, tenderness, and juiciness. Each filet is topped with a crunchy topping, either parmesan crisps or spicy, crispy pickle chips, and a proprietary garlic aioli sauce, all thoughtfully stacked between a buttery brioche roll -- designed to deliver a chef’s kiss with each bite. And, as always, you can enjoy Panera’s Chef’s Chicken Sandwiches with the confidence in knowing they are made with chicken raised without antibiotics, and Clean ingredients — food that does not contain artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources.

“With Panera’s new Chef’s Chicken Sandwiches, we’re launching an exciting new platform, that will delight our guests. This is no ordinary chicken sandwich,” said Eduardo Luz, Chief Brand & Concept Officer, Panera Bread. “This is for a guest looking for a delicious, chef-crafted, gourmet-level sandwich, freshly prepared and made with Clean ingredients in true Panera fashion. This will shatter the expectations of what a chicken sandwich should taste like, and we think they’re worth every bite and every penny.”

“The Signature Take” Chef’s Chicken Sandwich tops the chicken breast filet with a new garlic aioli sauce made with ingredients like Extra Virgin Olive Oil, garlic, and a secret blend of spices. Next, savory parmesan crisps add additional flavor and crunch. Finally, it is topped with leafy emerald greens for an element of freshness all built on Panera’s lightly sweet and hearty brioche roll made with real butter.

For the spicy flavor aficionado, Panera is serving up “The Spicy Take.” Instead of parmesan crisps, Panera adds spicy, crispy pickle chips alongside its garlic aioli for an added and unexpected layer of bold crunch and spice. The Spicy Take chicken breast filet is then stacked on a brioche roll and topped with spicy buffalo sauce -- a rich, delicious wing sauce made with ingredients like aged red cayenne pepper and roasted garlic balanced with subtle notes of sweet honey and molasses.

“Our chefs and bakers know how to combine flavors to create elevated culinary classics – The Familiar, Made Fantastic™. We’ve brought that expertise to this new category many times over,” said Claes Petersson, Head Chef and Chief Food Innovation Officer, Panera Bread. “We always love crafting a new offering from Panera’s pantry of Clean ingredients, because we believe Clean food, freshly prepared, tastes delicious. From the juicy chicken breast filet to the spicy, crispy pickle chips, our two new Chef’s Chicken Sandwiches pack a serious flavor punch.”

The chefs at Panera wanted the chicken sandwich experience to be impeccable from start to finish, so Panera designed an innovative new tear away box, a simple, recyclable box that helps protect the brioche roll from being crushed and helps keep the sauce from dripping out. The packaging delivers a fantastic culinary experience for Panera guests on the go.

Panera Chef’s Chicken Sandwiches begin rolling out in select markets this week, and will be available at Panera bakery-cafes nationwide and on the Panera app starting March 30. The sandwiches retail starting at $10.99* for a full sandwich. From April 4 through April 10, guests who use the code “FREEDRINK” will receive a free drink with any purchase of a Chef’s Chicken Sandwich.***

For more information, visit www.PaneraBread.com.

 Pricing and availability may vary.

^{**For more on Clean, visit panerabread.com/clean.}

^{***Offer valid 4/4/2022-4/10/2022. Restrictions apply. For details visit: Panerabread.com/onlinecode Promo code: FREEDRINK}

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About Panera Bread
30 years ago, at a time when quick service meant low quality, Panera set out to challenge this expectation. We believed that food that was good and that you could feel good about, served in a warm and welcoming environment by people who cared, could bring out the best in all of us. To us, that is food as it should be and that is why we exist.

So, we began with a simple commitment: to bake bread fresh every day in our bakery-cafes. No short cuts, just bakers with simple ingredients and hot ovens. Each night, any unsold bread and baked goods were shared with neighbors in need.

These traditions carry on today, as we have continued to find ways to be an ally for wellness to our guests. That means crafting a menu of soups, salads and sandwiches that we are proud to feed our families. Like
poultry and pork raised without antibiotics on our salads and sandwiches. A commitment to transparency and options that empower our guests to eat the way they want. Seasonal flavors and whole grains. And a commitment to food that does not contain the artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources set forth on our No-No list in the food in our U.S. bakery-cafes. Why? Because we think that simpler is better and we believe in serving food as it should be. Because when you don’t have to compromise to eat well, all that is left is the joy of eating.

We’re also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we now offer new ways to enjoy your Panera favorites – like mobile ordering and Rapid PickUp® for to-go orders and delivery – all designed to make things easier for our guests.
As of December 28, 2021, there were 2,118 bakery-cafes in 48 states and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the world’s largest fast casual restaurant companies, comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and
Einstein Bros.® Bagels. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find us on Twitter (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) or Instagram (@panerabread).

Media Contacts
ALISON BROD MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS
panera@abmc-us.com

SLOANE PR
panera-sloane@sloanepr.com