Panera Bread launches 'new era' with new menu items

Panera Bread has announced a New Era, as the company’s largest menu transformation ever began its next chapter, guided by what guests love the most— soups, salads, sandwiches and signature mac & cheese. The new menu is designed to create more value for guests, offering more new salads and sandwiches, more new options below $10, and more in every bite with additional chicken and steak on many menu items.

“The New Era at Panera marks an important and exciting evolution for the brand, one where we are focused on listening to our guests and delivering what they want most,” says José Alberto Dueñas, chief executive officer, Panera Bread. “That means serving great food made just for you, with the right combination of amazing taste, quality ingredients and value. We are transforming and returning to what our guests love, which will propel Panera into the future as we continue to serve food our guests feel good about eating.”

The New Era at Panera is grounded in feedback from bakery-café team members, innovating the company’s operating model to make it easier for teams to deliver a great experience faster and accurately, while achieving better consistency and quality any time of day. Newly configurated in-café and on the Panera app, the menu also streamlines Panera’s pantry of high-quality ingredients and reduces operational complexity, helping Panera team members to deliver a fantastic and consistent guest experience.

“We have already heard great things from our teams about Panera’s New Era. The energy and excitement from our associates around these new menu items have been unlike any other menu change we've undertaken. This improved associate experience translates to an even better experience for our guests, with the goal of providing more value and creating renewed excitement,” says Debbie Roberts, chief operations officer, Panera Bread. “After interviewing more than 30,000 guests during this process, our research shows what they want is a focus on our core offerings, and we are confident that once they try the new menu, they'll be back for more.”

New menu items available now include:

Toasted Italiano - Black Forest ham and soppressata, with provolone, romaine, red onions, 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 our Black Pepper Focaccia
Ciabatta Cheesesteak - Tender marinated sliced steak, provolone, garlic aioli, caramelized onions, and zesty, sweet Peppadew™ peppers on Ciabatta
Tomato Basil BLT - Applewood smoked bacon, crisp mixed greens, vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic aioli, salt and pepper on Tomato Basil Miche
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 a sprinkle of shawarma seasoning
Southwest Chicken Ranch - Romaine tossed in ranch dressing, topped with grilled chicken, fresh avocado, grape tomatoes, fire-grilled corn, fresh cilantro, blue corn tortilla strips and drizzled with chipotle aioli
Balsamic Chicken Greens with Grains - Romaine and crisp 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 crisp 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 - Tender shell pasta in a blend of rich cheeses including our tangy aged white cheddar sauce, topped with applewood smoked bacon

Enhanced menu items include: