Panera Enters A New Era With Updated Menu, Portions And Prices

29.02.2024 - 17:35 / forbes.com

Panera Bread is ready to enter 2024. And with it, a new era is starting at Panera this spring.

The company just announced its larged menu overhaul ever, with a focus on innovating and enhancing Panera’s core offerings: soups, salads, sandwiches, and mac and cheese.

Starting April 4, Panera’s new menu will have over 20 updates, include 9 new items and 12 classics with a few tweaks, such as updated versions of the Bravo Club Sandwich, Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad and more.

“We are getting back to Panera at its best with these menu updates that are centered completely on our guests and what they love about us,” said Alicia Mowder, SVP of Product Strategy & Insights, Panera Bread, “We’ve listened to thousands of guests on our path to unveiling more than 20 new or enhanced menu items and are thrilled to bring these products to Panera bakery-cafes nationwide.”

To adjust pricing, Panera has added more new menu options below $10 (in most markets). The new dishes feature new salad dressings, meats and cheeses, spice blends and hearty grains, and also promise more meat per bite. A new bacon mac and cheese is on the menu, along with several new sandwiches and salads.

New sandwiches include a Toasted Italiano (Black Forest ham, soppressata and provolone, romaine, red onion, sliced pepperoncini peppers, garlic aioli, and Greek dressing on Panera’s toasted French baguette), Chicken Bacon Rancher (grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar, and ranch dressing on black pepper focaccia), Ciabatta Cheesesteak (sliced steak, provolone, garlic aioli, caramelized onions, and zesty sweet Peppadew™ peppers on ciabatta) and a Tomato Basil BLT (applewood smoked bacon, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic aioli, salt and pepper on tomato basil miche).

Four new salads include Mediterranean Chicken Greens with Grains (romaine and crisp mixed greens tossed in Greek Dressing, topped with hearty whole grain blend of farro & red rice, grilled chicken, hummus, feta, red onions, zesty sweet Peppadew™ peppers, sliced cucumbers, and Panera’s Mediterranean shawarma seasoning), Southwest Chicken Ranch (romaine tossed in ranch dressing, with grilled chicken and drizzled with chipotle aioli, topped with fresh avocado, grape tomatoes, fire-grilled corn, fresh cilantro, and blue corn tortilla strips), Balsamic Chicken Greens with Grains (romaine and crisp mixed greens tossed in balsamic vinaigrette, with hearty whole grain blend of farro and red rice, sliced cucumbers, topped with sliced pepperoncini peppers, fresh avocado, feta, pumpkin seeds, and Green Goddess dressing, and Ranch Cobb Salad (romaine and crisp mixed greens tossed in ranch dressing, topped with grape tomatoes,