Panera Bread, a leader and innovator in the fast casual restaurant segment, announced the opening of its updated urban store format in New York, the newest of several new formats targeted at more densely populated and non-traditional trade areas. With digital sales at Panera now representing 50% of total system sales, Panera now offers a portfolio of store formats designed to cater to the needs of an increasingly digital and off-premise guest. With more than 3 million average transactions each week from digital channels including the app, kiosk and web, Panera guests continue to seek freshly-prepared menu items with the increased convenience, customization, speed and ease that the digital experience enables.
“At Panera, our innovation has always been rooted in the guest and associate experience, how we can reduce friction, drive convenience and bring Panera to new places where we know the demand is high for the freshly-prepared food we serve”
“At Panera, our innovation has always been rooted in the guest and associate experience, how we can reduce friction, drive convenience and bring Panera to new places where we know the demand is high for the freshly-prepared food we serve,” said Eduardo Luz, Chief Brand & Concept Officer, Panera Bread. “With a flexible portfolio of cafe designs, we’re now able to bring Panera’s anywhere, from suburban cafes with double drive-thrus, to a digital-only Panera’s To Go and everything in between.”
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Digital-Driven New Urban Store Formats Debut in New York
The new Panera’s urban format marries a 40% smaller footprint than traditional bakery-cafes with updated ordering kiosks, a fully digitized menu and a new tracking screen providing more detailed order status. Designed with only limited counter seating, the bulk of the bakery-cafe is geared toward a statement Rapid Pick-Up® experience, with dedicated shelves for pick-up and to-go orders. It is also the first Panera’s bakery-cafe in the country that fully incorporates the new Panera’s brand world, featuring modern and inviting new art, and updated design touches and color palette. The new urban format will continue to provide the freshly-prepared menu offerings and bakery-forward experience that guests expect from Panera.