Panera Bread

Opportunity

Panera was looking to innovate once again to meet the evolving needs of customers in an increasingly off-premise world. They sought out a partner to help them develop a new restaurant design that would enhance the guest experience and operate as their go-forward model.

The Change

Panera’s next-generation restaurant was designed to preserve the unique parts of the brand that people love, while prioritizing the guest journey and technology developments. The new restaurant incorporates a revitalized dine-in experience, including moving the bakery-café ovens in full view of customers so they can immerse themselves in the baking happening throughout the day. An enhanced digital experience and a dual drive-thru with a dedicated rapid pick-up lane, also demonstrate guest convenience as one of the highest priorities of the new design.

Impact

Panera opened their first next-generation bakery-café location in November 2021. With other sites currently under way, there’s much more to come in this exciting next chapter of the business.