'Panera Grocery' Launches As Restaurants Adapt To COVID-19

Panera is launching a new service for customers called "Panera Grocery" as the restaurant group looks to maintain sales as COVID-19 continues to impact the restaurant business. Many other restaurant brands are currently exploring similar options including Subway and Tijuana Flats. 4 Rivers Smokehouse recently launched a similar initiative in Florida.

Customers have rushed to grocery stores as the COVID-19 pandemic forces people home with "Stay-at-Home" and "Shelter-in-Place" orders enforced around the country. Costco saw their sales rise by $1.5 billion in March and Wal-Mart experienced a 20% climb during the same time frame. The trend is similar across the industry.

"From limited choices on grocery shelves to the growing need to limit the number of trips outside of the home, it is an incredibly stressful time when it comes to putting wholesome food on the table, and we knew Panera could help," said Niren Chaudhary, Panera CEO.

"With this new service we can help deliver good food and fresh ingredients from our pantry to yours, helping provide better access to essential items that are increasingly harder to come by."

Customers can visit Panera online at PaneraBread.com or use the Panera app to make orders as well find the locations in the Grubhub app. Purchases made will count towards rewards for MyPanera users. Customers will get their purchases through contactless delivery, Rapid Pick-Up®, Drive-Up, and Drive-Thru.

Current offerings include:

• Freshly Baked Breads and Bagels: Classic White Loaf; Whole Grain Pan Loaf; French Baguette; Bagel Packs
• Milk and Dairy: Skim Milk & 2% Milk gallons (at participating cafes); Greek Yogurt, Yogurt Tubes; Plain Cream Cheese
• Fresh Produce: Apples, Avocados, Blueberries, Red Grapes, Vine Ripe Tomatoes

Panera Grocery items are free of artificial preservatives, flavors, sweeteners, and colors from artificial sources. Panera Grocery is a separate, ingredients-based service operated out of Panera bakery cafes. Panera at Home retail products are available anywhere you shop for groceries as well.

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