Panera Bread is undergoing a massive menu overhaul with items removal (2024)

Panera Bread customers were forced to say goodbye to 48 favorite menu items earlier this month as the chain goes under a massive overhaul.

The fast food restaurant chain previously announced it would be doing an extreme menu switch beginning on April 4. The menu changes are symbolizing 'a new era at Panera' that is 'refocusing on innovating and enhancing the core Panera items guests love the most.'

According to Panera's statement, those core items are soups, salads, sandwiches and mac & cheese.

Some of the products that Panera Bread consumers were forced to say farewell to are the blueberry bagel, the Baja bowl and cold brew.Another was one item that helped the chain when it launched nearly four decades ago.

Panera has also welcomed 9 new items and '12 enhanced classics' on the same day as their menu options removal.

Scroll down for the full list of nixed items

Panera Bread previously announced that 48 menu items would disappear on April 4, including the Blueberry Bagel

The menu changes are symbolizing 'a new era at Panera' that is 'refocusing on innovating and enhancing the core Panera items guests love the most'

The core items that Panera Bread is focusing on when it comes to their guest satisfaction aresoups, salads, sandwiches and mac & cheese

Panera Bread first opened a store in Missouri in 1987 as a bakery with a secret sourdough starter - which is the company is now eliminating from its menu.

They have added to their menu over the years and the restaurant chain believes in serving 'delicious, freshly prepared, clean food made with carefully selected ingredients.'

As of January 2024, Panera Bread has more than 2,160 locations within 48 US states.

The restaurant chain has switched up their menu over the years, but they confirmed in its February statement the April switch is by far the biggest.

'The new menu offers guests better value through enhanced portions and lower price points, while also being easier for guests to navigate,' the statement indicated.

'The transformed menu will help streamline operations for bakery-cafe teams, ensuring they can continue to deliver delicious food more easily and always wrapped in Panera warmth.'

Panera Bread products that were axed from the menu include the turkey chili, green passion smoothie and the pepperoni mozzarella melt.

Interestingly enough, these three items were ranked in the top 20 best Panera menu items by Tasting Tablein 2023.

The restaurant chain may be able to make up for this removal with their all-new menu items.

Panera Bread first opened a store in 1987. As of January 2024, Panera Bread has more than 2,160 locations within 48 US states.

Customers were forced to say goodbye to the Mediterranean bowl with chicken on April 4. However, the Mediterranean Veggie sandwich is staying put

Items Enhanced and Added into the Panera Bread Menu

Sandwiches

  • Bravo club sandwich
  • Chicken bacon rancher
  • Chipotle chicken avocado melt
  • Ciabatta cheesesteak
  • Toasted Italiano

Salads

  • Balsamic chicken greens with grains
  • Fuji apple chicken salad
  • Mediterranean chicken greens with grains
  • Ranch cobb salad
  • Southwest chicken ranch

Bowls

  • Bacon mac & cheese

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The new entrees that Panera Bread has added to its menu include the toasted Italiano and the bacon mac & cheese.

Its toasted Italiano comes with ingredients like black forest ham, provolone, romaine and Greek dressing.

Another new soon-to-be-favorite could be the chicken bacon rancher.

The sandwich includes white cheddar and grilled chicken to make it scrumptious for all bacon lovers.

Panera Bread customers who are in a steak and cheese mood can order the all-new ciabatta cheesesteak.

The cheesesteak is full of provolone, garlic aioli and caramelized onions that will satisfy a steak and cheese lover's taste buds.

Guests who are not up for a new sandwich can also try a new spin on Panera Bread's mac & cheese.

The restaurant chain has added a new Bacon Mac & Cheese bowl that includes many different cheeses.

Customers who are hoping for a regular menu option can also order an enhanced product.

Panera Bread has revamped the recipes for items likeFuji apple chicken salad and the chipotle chicken avocado melt.

Guests can try any of these all-new or revamped menu items at any Panera Bread location today.

While Panera is promoting its newest items, social media users were quick to vent their frustrations with their favorites being removed.

'Yo shoutout Panera Bread for removing all of the good stuff from their menu to add new items like bacon mac and cheese. wow so innovative. so creative. how are you gonna f*** up your menu that bad?' X user Stephanie Liebel wrote.

Another user named @rosemags_ agreed saying: 'Whoever decided to absolutely decimate the entire Panera menu really needs to re-evaluate their life decisions.'

User Mare Finley wasn't just mad about the removed items, but the cost for a meal as well: 'Panera just changed their whole menu, made everything worse, and their prices are still outrageous.'

Items Removed from the Panera Bread Menu

Sandwiches

  • Deli ham sandwich
  • Deli turkey sandwich
  • Napa almond chicken salad sandwich
  • Roasted turkey & avocado BLT
  • Signature take chicken sandwich
  • Southwest chicken melt
  • Spicy take chicken sandwich
  • Toasted steak & white cheddar

Baguettes

  • Black forest ham & Gouda melt
  • Chicken cordon bleu melt
  • Chicken green goddess caprese melt
  • Chicken & pepperoni mozzarella melt
  • Pepperoni mozzarella melt

Bowls

  • Baja bowl
  • Baja bowl with chicken
  • Mediterranean bowl
  • Mediterranean bowl with chicken
  • Teriyaki chicken & broccoli bowl
  • Turkey chili
  • Vegetarian autumn squash soup

Pizza

  • Cheese flatbread pizza
  • Margherita flatbread pizza
  • Pepperoni flatbread pizza

Bread

  • Classic sourdough loaf
  • White whole grain

Salads

  • Asian sesame salad with chicken
  • Asiago cheese focaccia
  • Southwest Caesar salad with chicken
  • Soufflés
  • Spinach & artichoke soufflé

Pastries

  • Blueberry bagel
  • Blueberry scone
  • Chocolate chip bagel
  • Cranberry orange muffin
  • Croissant
  • Lemon drop cookie
  • Pastry ring
  • Sesame bagel

Coffee

  • Chocolate latte
  • Cold brew
  • Frozen caramel cold brew
  • Frozen chocolate cold brew
  • Iced chocolate latte
  • Madagascar vanilla almond cold brew
  • Madagascar vanilla cream cold brew

Other Beverages

  • Green passion smoothie
  • Hot chocolate
  • Peach & blueberry smoothie with almond milk

Condiments

  • Reduced fat chive and onion cream cheese

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Panera Bread is undergoing a massive menu overhaul with items removal (2024)

FAQs

Why is Panera removing so many items? ›

Earlier this year, Panera announced it was transforming its menu in an effort to focus on innovating the core Panera items. The new menu, which launched April 4 centers around a number of dishes including soups, salads, sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese.

Has Panera discontinued dozens of menu items as part of a menu overhaul? ›

Panera confirmed that beginning April 4, some items would be removed from the menu, with nine items planned to replace them. According to Eat This, Not That!, 48 menu items have been removed from the menu in what was described as the "biggest menu transformation" in the company's history.

What menu items has Panera discontinued? ›

Besides the pepperoni, margherita, and cheese flatbread pizzas, the list also alleges items like turkey chili, Asian sesame salad with chicken, plain butter croissant, and the sesame seed bagel will be getting the ax, alongside Mediterranean bowls — which were also introduced in 2019 alongside flatbread pizzas.

Why did Panera remove their flatbreads? ›

The chain is phasing out items like flatbread pizza to make space for nine fresh menu additions and “enhanced portions,” building on its recent dinner focus.

Is Panera Bread in financial trouble? ›

Panera's profitability, especially post-2017 acquisition by JAB Holding, remains undisclosed in the public domain. However, its impressive revenue figures, particularly the $4.8 billion in 2022 sales, and its significant digital sales hint at a healthy financial status.

Who is Panera's biggest competitor? ›

Panera Bread main competitors are The Cheesecake Factory, In-N-Out Burger, and Corner Bakery Cafe. Competitor Summary. See how Panera Bread compares to its main competitors: Kroger has the most employees (465,000).

What does Panera do with leftover food? ›

That's why we donate our unsold baked goods to local non-profits at the end of the night through our Day-End Dough-Nation® program. We partner with over 3,300 charities nationwide, including food pantries, veteran services and youth shelters, to provide bread and bakery items to those in need and to reduce food waste.

What company did Panera merge with? ›

Panera announced on August 25, 2021, that it had merged with Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels to form Panera Brands.

Does Panera not do soup anymore? ›

Our soup delivery menu features all our classic soups, like our delicious Homestyle Chicken Noodle soup, Creamy Tomato, as well as our fan-favorite French Onion Soup.

Does Panera no longer have potato soup? ›

As exciting as this reunion has been it pains me to find that Panera Bread has removed Baked Potato soup from their menu since the return of French Onion soup.

When did Panera get bought out? ›

On July 18, 2017, Panera was acquired by JAB Holding Co., ending its 26-year run as a public company on a high note.

What is comparable to Panera? ›

Panera Bread's competitors and similar companies include Sweetgreen, Del Taco, Starbucks, Restaurant Brands International, Au Bon Pain and Dine Brands Global. Panera Bread is a company that owns and operates a chain of bakery cafés.

Is Panera Bread owned by Starbucks? ›

Starbucks has been struggling for years to pull off its ambitious plan of selling more food. That task just got tougher. JAB Holding's $7.2 billion acquisition of bakery-cafe chain Panera Bread on Wednesday vaults the investment firm into the exact same lunch business that Starbucks is trying to penetrate.

What did Panera Bread used to be called? ›

Panera began in 1987 as St. Louis Bread Company, a humble community bakery founded with a sourdough starter from San Francisco and a dream of putting a loaf of bread in every arm.

Does Panera make bread from scratch? ›

All That Delicious Bread is Baked Fresh Daily

Panera employs over 6,000 bakers who make more than 250 million bagels and 50 million baguettes each year. Every night, fresh dough is delivered to all Panera locations from Fresh Dough Facilities across the country. So their bread is about as fresh as it gets.

What does Panera do with leftovers? ›

That's why we donate our unsold baked goods to local non-profits at the end of the night through our Day-End Dough-Nation® program. We partner with over 3,300 charities nationwide, including food pantries, veteran services and youth shelters, to provide bread and bakery items to those in need and to reduce food waste.

Do you throw your stuff away at Panera? ›

After you're done eating, take your dishes and trash and bring it to the nearest trash bin. There will be a bin on top of it to place your dirty dishes and silverware, and everything else can be thrown out.

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