The Bread Winner
Panera Bread
Success Magazine: How has Panera Bread
positioned itself to be truly unique in the
quick casual food industry?
Panara Bread: By offering fresh baked bread
as the basis of every great recipe, and offering quality at a reasonable price.
SM: What is the mission of the company?
PB: A loaf of bread in every arm has been
the mission statement of the company since
its conception.
SM: Why do your sandwiches stand apart?
PB: The uniqueness of our recipes and the
flavor that it brings out in the bread in which
it is served on.
SM: How are you able to maintain quality control, ensuring consistency of your
product?
PB: We have a very tenured group of managing partners. Their ownership in the business helps to maintain the quality of our
product. Also, we have an extensive training
program, for not only our baker’s but our re20 SUCCESS JULY 2009
tail associates, that centers around delivering
only the highest quality products.
SM: How important is your team in securing the success of your market?
SM: Panera Bread has seen huge success
in a relatively short amount of time. What
makes this chain so successful?
PB: Our people are why we are so successful. Without them we probably wouldn’t
be here. We really struggled with our first
two locations, Crossgates Commons and
Latham Farms, and there were months
where I questioned the growth potential of
the market. Thanks to our team’s hard work
and perseverance, we have become the success that we are today and are still opening
more cafes!
PB: We provide great food, at a reasonable
price, in a short amount of time. All our
sandwiches are made with bread that is baked
on site every day. There’s something about
having a sandwich on fresh baked bread that
makes the difference. We are easy to access
and provide a comfortable atmosphere for
meetings and other gatherings. And, our
menu is diverse enough that our “regulars”
will come in for breakfast and lunch.
SM: What makes Panera Bread in the
Capital District stand out from the company as a whole?
PB: It’s our people and tenure. We haven’t
lost a managing partner in over eight years,
and only a handful of assistant managers.
Customers like seeing the same faces when
they go out to eat. All this tenure allows us to
get creative in the ways we market our brand,
trying new things that will attract customers.
SM: What is your hope for the future of
Panera bread?
PB: We are looking to open two to three
more in the Capital District and begin testing some drive-thru locations.
SM: What is your affiliation with ACS?
Why is this connection so important to
your company?
PB: The American Cancer Society has been
our market Operation Dough-Nation® recipient for four years. Operation Dough-Nation®
was founded in 1992 in order to formalize our
commitment to community involvement.
It has grown to include for major activities: Community Breadbox™ cash collection boxes, the Day-End Dough-Nation™
program, Panera/SCRIP Card fundraising
along with an array of different charitable
organizations. We value the relationship
we have fostered with the organization over
time and truly feel that our monetary, as well
as product donations, benefit those that are
touched by cancer locally in a positive manner. Over this period of time, between customer contributions that we match annually,
fundraising, and event sponsorships we have
donated over $100,000 to ACS locally. Additionally, ACS has done a remarkable job
getting our local bakery cafes involved in
their multitude of community events as well
as aiding us in educating our guests about
cancer prevention and assistance programs.
SM: When did you begin the catering portion of the business?
SM: What would you like to tell people
about Panera Bread, that they may not already know?
strawberry granola parfait to our breakfast offerings. To assist our customers, each store has
a designated catering coordinator to help you
menu plan and answer all your questions.
PB: In addition to working with ACS
through our Operation Dough-Nation
program, each of our local bakery-cafes donate all unsold fresh breads and pastries at
the end of every evening to local groups in
need (churches, food shelters, soup kitchens) through our Day End Dough-Nation
program. In 2008, Panera donated over $40
million in unsold bakery items nationally.
PB: Our catering was developed in 2003 in
response to high demand from our customers.
Over the last few years it has grown to a substantial part of our business and we continue
adding to our menu to best serve our customers needs. This year we added hot breakfast
sandwiches, hot egg soufflés, and a delicious
SM: Who is your target market for Via
Panera Catering?
PB: Business professionals tend to use us the
most, seeking our professional service and
packaging to make a meeting or appreciation
day memorable. We also enjoy offering our catering for private events such as bridal showers,
anniversaries, and birthday parties. This time
of year is great for our individual boxed breakfast or lunch, a great way to take Panera Bread
on the road. We have found almost everyone
can use our catering service if they have five or
more to feed...even if they don’t have five, who
doesn’t enjoy extra Panera Bread?
SM: How does the catering menu differ
from the in-house menu?
PB: Just like our bakery-cafes, we offer a
wide variety of breakfast and lunch options
partnered with the fresh baked breads Panera
Bread bakes daily. The difference lies in the
packaging and option for delivery. Our packaging includes paper goods and a pleasant eyeappealing layout, which makes planning easy
and presentation phenomenal. We offer buffet style format or individually boxed for your
group’s convenience. A copy of the menu is
available on our website and a catering coordinator is available to assist at all locations.
SM: Do you deliver?
PB: Absolutely! That is one thing exclusive to our catering customers. All orders of
$50 or more are able to enjoy delivery and
setup. We do ask for 24 hours notice for any
delivery orders and of course pickup is always available. To locate the closest Panera
Bread to you or to preview the menu, visit
our website at www.panerabread.com.
JULY 2009 SUCCESS 21