Panera Bread Demonstrates Industry Leading Digital Performance

Digital highlights include:

• 16 percent of total Company sales are now ordered, produced and paid for digitally and it is projected that over 20 percent of its business will be digital by year end
• More than a third of retail sales come from digital channels in top performing markets
• To-date, system-wide digital sales are equivalent to a half billion dollar e-commerce business, and could reach $1 billion in annual sales by 2017
   

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 05, 2016 -- Almost two years after the introduction of Panera 2.0, the initiative has positioned Panera Bread (PNRA) as a leading restaurant e-tailer, with end-to-end digital pathways like Rapid Pick Up and Fast Lane Kiosks increasing accessibility for both to-go and dine-in guests.

“Our 2.0 cafes are demonstrating that restaurants can leverage technology – not just to improve a standalone function like payment – but throughout the customer journey to heighten and differentiate the total experience,” said Ron Shaich, founder and CEO.

“From the start, we knew a mobile payment system alone would not be enough to meaningfully improve the guest experience. We needed to use technology to support a better experience from end-to-end throughout the customer journey and we have done just that,” said Blaine Hurst, EVP and Chief Transformation and Growth Officer. “Outside of the big three pizza operators, I don’t know of another public restaurant company that has taken this sort of holistic approach, and in turn, experienced the level of digital adoption we are now seeing at Panera.”

Panera’s digital ordering interfaces also integrate with the Company’s loyalty program – MyPanera – which is used in approximately 60 percent of digital orders, and more than 80 percent of mobile orders through the Panera app. By linking digital orders to the program, guests are able to save their favorites, earn and track rewards, and receive 1:1 tailored content. 2.2 million guests have downloaded the Panera mobile app since Rapid Pick Up was launched nationally in August 2014.

The Company has obtained patent protection for aspects of the Panera 2.0 platform.

About Panera Bread

Thirty years ago, at a time when quick service meant low quality, Panera set out to challenge this expectation. We believed that food that was good and that you could feel good about, served in a warm and welcoming environment by people who cared, could bring out the best in all of us. To us, that is food as it should be and that is why we exist.            

So we began with a simple commitment: to bake fresh bread from fresh dough in our bakery-cafes, every day. No short cuts, just bakers with simple ingredients and hot ovens. Each night, any unsold bread and baked goods were shared with neighbors in need.

These traditions carry on today, as we have continued to find ways to be an ally to our guests. That means crafting a menu of soups, salads and sandwiches that we are proud to feed our families. Like poultry and pork raised without antibiotics on our salads and sandwiches. A commitment to transparency and options that empower our guests to eat the way they want. Seasonal flavors and whole grains. And a commitment to removing artificial additives (flavors, colors, sweeteners and preservatives) from the food in our bakery-cafes. Why? Because we think that simpler is better and we believe in serving food as it should be. Because when you don’t have to compromise to eat well, all that is left is the joy of eating.

We’re also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we now offer new ways to enjoy your Panera favorites – like mobile ordering and Rapid Pick-Up for to-go orders – all designed to make things easier for our guests. As of September 29, 2015, there are 1,946 bakery-cafes in 46 states and in Ontario, Canada operating under the Panera Bread®, Saint Louis Bread Co. ® or Paradise Bakery & Cafe® names. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find us on Twitter (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) or Instagram (@panerabread).

Matters discussed in this news release and in our public disclosures, whether written or oral, relating to future events or our future performance, including any discussion, express or implied, relating to our digital sales as a percentage of our business, and statements made therein, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27Aof the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are often identified by the words "believe," "positioned," "estimate," "project," "target," "plan," "goal," "assumption," "continue," "intend," "expect," "future," "anticipate," and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or the affirmative, that are not statements of historical fact. These forward looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our actual results and timing of certain events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those discussed from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10- K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2014 and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements and the internal projections and beliefs upon which we base our expectations included in this release are made only as of the date of this release and may change. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Media Contact:
Jonathan Yohannan
[email protected]