Dive Brief:
- Paneraon Thursday announced the largest menu update in its history, which will be available across the brand’s locations starting April 4, according to a press release emailed to Restaurant Dive.
- The menu includes at least nine new items, including four salads, four sandwiches and bacon mac and cheese, as well as reformulations of the recipes for a dozen extant menu items. To make room for the new items, Panera is “taking off some menu categories like flatbread pizza, but it’s all in service of refocusing on the core offerings,” the company said in a statement.
- The chain said the menu updates include “enhanced portions” that include “more to each bite, with more chicken and steak on many salads and sandwiches.” Panera didn’t specify which dishes were impacted, but this adjustment bucks industry trends emphasizing snacking occasions.
Dive Insight:
MORE ON THE MENU
Panera New Era Menu
Release date:April 4
Toasted Italiano Sandwich: Black Forest ham, soppressata and provolone, romaine, red onion, sliced pepperoncini peppers, garlic aioliand Greek dressing on a toasted French baguette
Chicken Bacon Rancher Sandwich: Grilled chicken, applewood smoked bacon, aged white cheddar and ranch dressing on black pepper focaccia
Ciabatta Cheesesteak Sandwich: Marinated sliced steak, provolone, garlic aioli, caramelized onions and Peppadewpeppers on ciabatta
Tomato Basil BLT Sandwich: Applewood smoked bacon, mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic aioli and salt and pepper on tomato basil miche
Mediterranean Chicken Greens with Grains Salad: Romaine and mixed greens tossed in Greek dressing, topped with whole-grain blend of farroand red rice, grilled chicken, hummus, feta, red onions, zesty sweet Peppadewpeppers, sliced cucumbers and Mediterranean shawarma seasoning
Southwest Chicken Ranch Salad: 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 Salad: Romaine and mixed greens tossed in balsamic vinaigrette, with hearty whole grain blend of farro & red rice, sliced cucumbers, topped with sliced pepperoncini peppers, fresh avocado, feta, pumpkin seeds, and a drizzle of Green Goddess dressing
Ranch Cobb Salad: Romaine and mixed greens tossed in ranch dressing, topped with grape tomatoes, pickled red onions, applewood smoked bacon, feta and a hard-boiled egg
Bacon Mac &Cheese: Shell pasta in a blend of cheeses including aged white cheddar sauce, topped with applewood smoked bacon
While Panerais removing dinner items like the flatbread pizza, the emphasis of heavier portions for new and existing menu items suggest that this isn’t a retreat from the company’s multi-year focus on the dinner daypart.Tests of a reduced menu last year foreshadowed the removal of some dinner items, as well.
In addition to the new items, “12 classic favorites – including the Bravo Club Sandwich, Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad and more have received recipe enhancements,” according to the press release.
Fast casual competitor Sweetgreen has also looked to enhance its dinner offerings with heavier protein bowlsand new dessert options. With Dunkin’, McDonald’s and Starbucks all competing over the snacking occasion — with a special focus on cold caffeinated beverages—Panera and Sweetgreen may find an opening in full-meal occasions.
Menu changes have not gone smoothly for Panera of late. Last year, the company faced intense criticism and at least two lawsuits over its Charged Lemonade. According to a suit filed by the familyof a woman who suffered cardiac arrest and died after drinking on of the company’s Charged Lemonades, the 30-ounce versions of those beverages once contained up to 390 milligrams of caffeine, equal to about four cups of drip coffee using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s estimates. The suit also claims the beverage contained 124 grams of sugar, which is more than a quarter of a pound of sugar.
According to Panera’s website, the large version of its Mango Yuzu Charged Lemonade now contains a max of 234 miligramsof caffeine and 77 grams of sugar. Panera did not immediately respond to a request to clarify if and when the caffeine and sugar content of the drinks changed.Those lemonades debuted as self-service drinks as part of the company’s Unlimited Sip Club, a subscription service for beverages that Paneralaunched in 2022.
FAQs
New menu items launching April 4 include: Four outstanding new sandwiches at a variety of price points: 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.
What menu items did Panera get rid of? ›
Panera Bread discontinues dozens of menu items
- Deli Ham Sandwich.
- Deli Turkey Sandwich.
- Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich.
- Roasted Turkey & Avocado BLT.
- Signature Take Chicken Sandwich.
- Southwest Chicken Melt.
- Spicy Take Chicken Sandwich.
- Toasted Steak & White Cheddar.
New menu items launching April 4 include: Four outstanding new sandwiches at a variety of price points: 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.
Did Panera change their tuna salad? ›
Over the last two years, their Tuna Salad sandwich has really changed. You used to buy the sandwich and it was overflowing with delicious white Albacore tuna. Now, you will be lucky to get 2 tablespoons of tuna on each half of the sandwich and they decided red onion and mustard made it better.
Did Panera shrink their salads? ›
The salads seem to be half the size they were until recently. This downsizing of portion size is across the board at Panera and they have been doing it incrementally for a few years now. Don't go to Panera if you are hungry, you will not be satisfied unless you order multiple items.
Does Panera not do soup anymore? ›
Our soup delivery menu features all our classic soups, like our delicious Homestyle Chicken Noodle soup, Creamy Tomato, as well as our fan-favorite French Onion Soup.
What is the healthiest food option at Panera? ›
The 16 Healthiest Panera Items
- Grilled Chicken and Avocado BLT Sandwich. ...
- Tuna Salad Sandwich. ...
- Turkey and Cheddar Sandwich. ...
- Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich. ...
- Chipotle Chicken, Egg and Avocado Sandwich. ...
- Garden Avocado and Egg Whites on a Multigrain Bagel Flat. ...
- Steel Cut Oatmeal. ...
- Greek Yogurt With Mixed Berries Parfait.
I had even crafted my go-to You Pick Two order: The BBQ Chicken Salad & The Mediterranean veggie sandwich. One day while driving from Chicago to Ann Arbor, I stopped at Panera. When I placed my order, I was devastated to learn that The BBQ Chicken Salad had been discontinued.
What is in Paneras Caesar salad? ›
Ingredients
- Chicken.
- Parmesan Cheese.
- Romaine Lettuce.
- Black Pepper and Sea Salt Croutons.
- Caesar.
With the new menu now available in bakery-cafes, the Ciabatta Cheesesteak, Chicken Bacon Rancher and Mediterranean Chicken Greens with Grains are giving The Toasted Italiano a run for title of the next Panera classic.
We care for our communities by donating to charities dedicated to feeding our neighbors in need. That's why our bakery-cafes donate their unsold bread, bagels, and baked goods to local non-profits at the end of the night through our Day-End Dough-Nation program.
Why did Panera change their name? ›
Six years after its founding, St. Louis Bread Company was bought by Au Bon Pain, a French bakery led by Ron Shaich. Shaich then changed the name to Panera Bread in 1997, which is Latin for “bread basket.” From there, Schaich grew the chain into the fast-casual restaurant that we know today.
What are they getting rid of at Panera? ›
Panera Bread is getting rid of Charged Lemonade from its menu. The highly caffeinated beverage is at the center of at least two wrongful death lawsuits.
Who is Panera's biggest competitor? ›
Panera Bread main competitors are The Cheesecake Factory, In-N-Out Burger, and Corner Bakery Cafe. Competitor Summary. See how Panera Bread compares to its main competitors: Kroger has the most employees (465,000).
Why did Panera remove so many items? ›
When Panera initially announced the transformation, the chain confirmed to Eat This, Not That! that it planned to remove some menu categories so it could refocus on core offerings like soups, salads, sandwiches, and mac & cheese.
Why did Panera get rid of pizzas? ›
The chain is phasing out items like flatbread pizza to make space for nine fresh menu additions and “enhanced portions,” building on its recent dinner focus.
What Panera had to change to make its menu clean? ›
In 2017 Panera announced it had removed artificial ingredients from its U.S. menu, following a commitment to "clean" ingredients in 2014 and the 2015 publication of a list of prohibited additives, which it calls its "No No List."
Did Panera get rid of Alfredo? ›
During this year, Panera Bread got rid of Chicken Tortellini Alfredo, which is the best meal that they served at their restaurants. It has been devastating and disappointing to say the least.
