26 Facts About Panera Bread

1. Panera Bread is one of the most popular, and fastest-growing chains in America today.

2. Panera Bread provides a wide range of choices for diners with special nutritional needs.

3. Panera Bread took a gamble that ended up paying off when it decided to not charge its customers for use of the Internet.

4. Panera Bread was sold to a private equity firm, JAB Holding Company in 2017.

5. Panera Bread is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for all associates.

6. Panera Bread was rated No 1 for Best Healthy Option, Best Salad, and Best Facilities, among restaurants with fewer than 5,000 locations.

7. In 2005, Panera Bread ranked 37th on Bloomberg BusinessWeek's list of "Hot Growth Companies", earning $38.6 million with a 42.9 percent increase in profits.

8. On November 5, 2015, Panera Bread announced that it will use free-range eggs in all of its stores by 2020.

9. On November 8, 2017, Panera Bread announced that founder Ron Shaich was stepping down as CEO, with company president Blaine Hurst to take over.

10. In January 2017, Panera Bread announced its food menu was free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives.

11. On March 23, 2016, Panera Bread opened its 2,000th location, a cafe in Elyria, Ohio.

12. Panera Bread made a commitment to remove artificial additives on its 'No No List' from the food in its US bakery-cafes by the end of 2016.

13. In June 2014, Panera Bread unveiled its official Food Policy which detailed commitments to clean ingredients, transparency and a positive impact on the food system.

14. In May 2014, Panera Bread unveiled "Panera Bread 2.0", a series of integrated technologies including new capabilities for digital ordering, payment, operations and, ultimately, consumption.

15. In February 2011, Panera Bread agreed to pay $5.75 million to shareholders while admitting no wrongdoing, settling the lawsuit.

16. Panera Bread was once the largest provider of free Wi-Fi Hotspots in the United States.

17. Panera Bread has a selection of seasonal offerings, such as the Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken salad offered during the summer season and the Roasted Turkey Cranberry Flatbread in the winter.

18. In November 2010, Panera Bread relocated its headquarters to Sunset Hills while vacating its Richmond Heights headquarters and Brentwood, Missouri offices.

19. Panera Bread has rolled out breakfast delivery to 231 cities and towns, including select cafes in the Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, St Louis and Minneapolis markets, according to a company press release.

20. Panera Bread is launching breakfast delivery, starting with 381 cafes in 231 cities and towns nationwide, including in St Louis.

21. Panera Bread announced its expansion of delivery services to include breakfast in 231 cities.

22. Panera Bread will offer a free You-Pick-Two meal at participating locations.

23. In a 2008 Health magazine study, Panera Bread was judged North America's healthiest fast casual restaurant.

24. Panera Bread moved its headquarters to Richmond Heights, Missouri in 2000.

25. Panera Bread will be moving from the downtown location in Bowling Green to the former location of the Frisch's Big Boy on East Wooster Street across from Bowling Green State University.

26. Panera Bread is always on its A-game when it comes to soups.