Panera To Close All Remaining Fresh Dough Facilities: What Does This Mean for Customers?

Panera will close all its remaining fresh dough facilities over the next two years, transitioning to a completely par-baked model where products arrive half-baked and are finished on-site in ovens.

Nation’s Restaurant News reported that the eatery will shutter these establishments over the next 18 months to two years. In 2016, the bakery chain had 24 fresh dough facilities, and it currently has nine left to close.

Additionally, to set the chain up for further growth, Panera changed the way it produces its bread. The quick service eatery has always been known for its fresh-baked bread, bagels, and pastries. For years, the company relied on a network of dough facilities that made fresh dough daily for bakery-cafes across the country.

But starting in early 2024, the restaurant began shifting how it handled its baking process. Today, many baked goods arrive at the cafes partially baked, then they get finished fresh in on-site ovens. This change helps streamline operations while still delivering that just-out-of-the-oven experience customers expect.

Brooke Buchanan, Panera’s chief corporate affairs officer, told Nation’s Restaurant News, “Our bread is our superstar and the homage to our brand. We wanted to make sure that the product in store was top quality, using the best ingredients based on our recipes.”

She continued, “The hardest thing for our team members is to say, ‘No, we’re out of that product.’ If you walk into a bakery-cafe at 4 p.m. and you want an Asiago bagel, you should be able to have that, and you will through this model.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Panera Bread (@panerabread)

“This new model allows us to develop more stores and grow throughout the United States in cities and towns that we couldn’t expand to previously because of the limited distance those [fresh dough facility delivery] trucks could travel,” Buchanan added. “So, while it was a difficult decision, it’s the right decision for our future, and I’m really excited about the feedback we’re hearing from our guests, whether they realize the change or not.”

Buchanan assured that Panera’s products will not be compromised through this new business model.

Panera Completely Transformed Its Menu in April 2024

A little over one year ago, Panera’s core menu underwent a complete overhaul. The restaurant announced its “biggest menu transformation in brand history” in April 2024.

The eatery promised “more than 20 menu updates offering innovative favorites, enhanced portions, and better value.” In addition to new and enhanced entrees, Panera added more new menu options below $10. In addition to the products, 12 classic favorites, including the Bravo Club Sandwich, Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt, the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad, and other beloved items, received recipe enhancements.

“We are getting back to Panera at its best with these menu updates that are centered completely on our guests and what they love about us,” Alicia Mowder, SVP of product strategy & insights at Panera Bread, said at the time. “We’ve listened to thousands of guests on our path to unveiling more than 20 new or enhanced menu items and are thrilled to bring these products to Panera bakery-cafes nationwide.”

These updates were intended to streamline and simplify operations for Panera’s cafe teams. This ensures the team completes all orders efficiently and accurately.

“Panera’s New Era is incredibly exciting, not only for our guests, but also our associates, who will be able to renew their focus on our core menu and serve our guests more efficiently with enhanced portions and better value,” said Debbie Roberts, chief operating officer. “We are eager to get back to our roots within these core categories and unveil these delicious new menu innovations, all while providing an exceptional guest experience.”