Panera Bread to Overhaul Menu: Over 30 Items Axed, Customers React

Panera Bread is reportedly preparing to take down more than 30 food items. The American chain store of bakery-café fast-casual restaurants is trimming its menu, and many favorites are affected.

With this alleged decision, customers have expressed their disappointment. They are upset with the menu changes at Panera Bread stores since their favorite foods are being removed and will no longer be available.

As per Jackson Progress, the company decided to get rid of more than two dozen menu items in an effort to improve speed while also simplifying its restaurant operations. This will also allow the brand to offer better menu selections for its expansion.

The report of Panera Bread's discontinuation of over 30 menu items first emerged when a TikTok user who claimed to be an employee of the bakery chain posted a list of foods that are supposedly set to be removed soon.

The social media post reached thousands, and customers immediately reacted negatively as their most-liked breads, sandwiches, and more were included in the list.

Some food items the supposed Panera employee mentioned are vegan soups - Bistro French Onion and 10-Vegetable Soup. For sandwiches, the Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich and Steak and White Cheddar Sandwich are on the list as well.

The other menus that may be cut are blueberry bagel, chocolate chip bagel, sesame bagel, chive, and onion bagel. The lemon drop cookies and cold brews are going away soon, too, as claimed by the "employee."

Then again, Panera Bread neither confirmed nor denied the staff's claim. Rather, the company implied that it would announce some menu changes soon.

"In service of continually improving upon the guest experience, we are currently testing a streamlined menu in a small amount of Panera bakery-cafes, providing guests with a faster and more convenient experience while also simplifying operations for our associates," The Street quoted Panera Bread as saying in a statement.

The bakery chain added, "We always have a number of tests running across the country to identify new ways to better serve our guests, whether that's by menu innovation, simplification, or through new technology."

Photo by: Panera Press Room