Panera Bread issued its transformation strategy designed to guide the next phase of Panera’s growth, called ‘Panera RISE’, where the RISE acronym stands for: Refreshing the menu, Igniting value, Serving guests with excellence, and Expanding its network. The ambitious plan aims to have Panera surpass USD 7 billion in sales by 2028.

The company is making significant investments to elevate ingredient quality, variety, and abundance across the menu, while also reimagining its operating model to invest in a guest experience built for today’s consumer and defined by Panera Warmth: “Over the past year, we have made considerable progress in strengthening our foundation to better serve our guests. Panera RISE is a momentum driver, grounded in the areas of differentiation that have made Panera an iconic brand for nearly 40 years,” said Paul Carbone, Chief Executive Officer, Panera Bread. “As we transform our business, we are investing in four strategic pillars that put the guest at the very center of everything we do.”

Carbone concluded: “I’m incredibly confident that Panera RISE is the roadmap that will drive our long-term growth and value creation, and that together with our team members and our franchisees, we will reclaim our position as the industry leader in fast casual.”

Panera’s first bakery-café opened in 1987, founded with a secret sourdough starter. The company today counts 2,239 bakery-cafés, bakery and franchise, in 48 states and Washington D.C., and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co.® names.

Photo: Panera