Local Panera Bread Bakery Cafes Introduce New Community Donation Partners to Support "Live Consciously. Eat Deliciously."

Freehold, NJ -  March 14, 2013 – Since it’s founding, Panera Bread Company (Nasdaq: PNRA) has always aspired to elevate the lives of its guest and associates while making a difference in the communities it serves.  In February, Panera unveiled a new initiative that for the first time articulates this purpose-driven philosophy.  “Live Consciously.  Eat Deliciously. ™”. This new campaign together with their newly formed strategic partnership with Feeding America and local food banks, will enable Panera Bread to become leaders in fighting food insecurity.

Today, local Panera Bread Bakery Cafes announce their new community donation partner - The Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (FBMOC).  The FBMOC services over 260 pantries, soup kitchens and other feeding programs with almost 7 million pounds of food distributed annually.  Through this newly formed partnership, the food bank, located in Neptune, NJ,  will benefit from special programs in local Panera Bread Bakery Cafes such as Community Breadbox cash donations, Day-End Dough-Nation product donations and support for food bank programs.

Community Breadbox- Through the Community Breadbox program, Panera enables its customers to contribute to the well-being of their communities.  Funds collected in area Panera Bread Locations will be distributed to local food banks and used to provide food for those in need. In 2012, local Panera Bread locations collected and donated more than $100,000 to charitable organizations. In 2013, FBMOC will be the recipient of any breadbox donations made in participating cafes.

Day-End Dough-Nation- Panera Bread bakes fresh bread each evening in each bakery cafe.  Any unsold bread and baked goods are donated to local hunger relief organizations like food pantries, shelters and emergency kitchens, many of which are part of the Feeding America network. Collectively, Panera bakery-cafes donated a retail value of approximately $100 million worth of unsold bread and baked goods in 2012 to help neighbors in need.

Participation in Special Programs- Panera Bread is dedicated to their relationship with the local food bank and will participate in programs throughout the year that benefit their hunger relief efforts such as:  Culinary Training Program for people in need of better-paid jobs, a Kids Café and Backpack program for children, a Mobile Pantry, and Food Stamp Outreach Program.  We will provide our customers, associates and communities with unique opportunities for community participation through volunteering and fundraising.

“Panera Bread is committed to supporting the communities that we serve.  We look forward to creating the dialogue around food insecurity, educating our communities and being the leaders in the movement to fixing a broken food chain,” said Theresa Rivello, Regional Marketing Director of Panera Bread. 

Panera Bread’s “Live Consciously.  Eat Deliciously.™” informational video  can be found at http://www.panerabread.com/liveconsciouslyeatdeliciously/

About Panera Bread

Delaware Valley Panera Bread Bakery Cafes are owned and operated by American Bread Company, LLC, a franchisee of Panera Bread Company. Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,625 bakery-cafes as of September 25, 2012, under the Panera Bread®, Saint Louis Bread Co.®, and Paradise Bakery & Café® names. We feature high quality, reasonably priced food in a warm, inviting, and comfortable environment. With our identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh-baked, artisan bread, we are committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. Nearly all of our bakery-cafes have a menu highlighted by antibiotic-free chicken, whole grain bread, and select organic and all-natural ingredients, with zero grams of artificial trans fat per serving, which provide flavorful, wholesome offerings. Our menu includes a wide variety of year-round favorites complemented by new items introduced seasonally with the goal of creating new standards in everyday food choices. In neighborhoods across the United States and in Ontario, Canada, our customers enjoy our warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor, and free Internet access. Our bakery-cafes routinely donate bread and baked goods to community organizations in need. Additional information is available on our website, http://www.panerabread.com.