ST. LOUIS, January 10, 2024 – Today, Panera Bread is excited to announce the newest additions to its sandwich menu alongside the perfect winter warmup deal. Two new toasted Sourdough Melts are available nationwide this week starting at $8.99 at participating local bakery-cafes. New Sourdough Melts are crafted on Panera’s signature Country Rustic Sourdough, expertly toasted to showcase the feel-good flavor of classic grilled cheese that pairs perfectly with Panera’s signature soups this National Soup Month. For guests who want to warm up even more, now for a limited time, guests can complete their meal with a cup of soup for just $1 on the Panera app with purchase of an entrée*.

Guests can choose between the mouthwatering new Bacon Avocado Melt with applewood smoked bacon, fresh avocado, smoked gouda, everything bagel seasoning blend and chipotle aioli on toasted sourdough or the flavor-packed Southwest Chicken Melt, made with smoked pulled chicken, smoked gouda, red onion, cilantro, and chipotle aioli on toasted sourdough. These deliciously warm and cheesy sandwiches are available as a whole or half sandwich portion or as part of a You Pick Two®.

“Just in time for National Soup Month, it’s the perfect season for guests to cozy up with a new Sourdough Melt and complete their meal with a cup of their favorite Panera soup for $1 - an incredible value to kickstart the year,” said Drayton Martin, SVP, Brand Building, Panera Bread. “At Panera, we pride ourselves on being the sandwich experts - and our team of chefs and bakers have taken our grilled cheese to new heights with melty new sandwich varieties that pack the perfect combination of flavors.”

In celebration of the launch of new Sourdough Melts and all things carb-related, Panera will be giving away 1,000 free Sourdough Melts on the Panera app with code BREADSOGOOD on January 17th for National Ditch Your Resolution Day**. 

To join MyPanera today or to order your Sourdough Melt, visit PaneraBread.com.

*Limited time offer. In app only through participating locations. Purchase any entrée and receive a cup of soup for only $1.  Use code: SOUP at checkout. One redemption per transaction.  Offer not valid on catering orders or orders placed on third party delivery sites. While supplies last. Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Offer may expire without notice due to error, fraud, computer error, electronic or technical malfunctions, or other unforeseen circumstances. Other restrictions apply. For complete details visit: https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/legal/soup.html

**No purchase required.  Must be a MyPanera member to redeem this offer. In app only through participating locations.  Starting on 1/17/24, the first 1,000 MyPanera members that order a Sourdough Melt sandwich on the Panera app using code BREADSOGOOD at checkout will receive the sandwich for free.  Offer ends when all 1,000 sandwiches have been redeemed but no later than 1/25/24. One free sandwich per MyPanera member.  Offer not valid on catering orders or orders placed on third party delivery sites. While supplies last. Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Offer may expire without notice due to error, fraud, computer error, electronic or technical malfunctions, or other unforeseen circumstances. Other restrictions may apply.  Visit https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/company-information/terms-of use.html#themypaneraprogram to become a MyPanera and for complete MyPanera terms.

About Panera Bread

Panera Bread opened in 1987 as a community bakery, founded with a secret sourdough starter and a belief that sharing great bread is an expression of warmth and generosity. That vision holds true today with a robust menu of delicious, chef-curated recipes created with a simple principle: The Familiar, Made Fantastic™. At Panera, we serve food that we are proud to serve our own families, made with responsibly raised proteins and freshly prepared with Clean ingredients--food that does not contain the artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources set forth on our No-No list served in U.S.  bakery-cafes. From crave-worthy soups, salads and sandwiches to flatbread pizza and sweets, we offer our guests more than great food. Our ethos of generosity drives us to meet our guests where they are through technology and through our shared values. We are stewards of our communities and the planet — with programs like Day-End Dough-Nation® that donates unsold baked goods in the evening to local non-profits, or labeling climate-friendly low carbon Cool Food Meals

As of December 26, 2023 there were 2,162 bakery-cafes, company and franchise, 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 largest fast casual restaurant companies in the U.S., 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) Instagram (@panerabread) or TikTok (@panerabread).

Media Contacts:

ALISON BROD MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONS

panera@abmc-us.com