Panera Bread has revealed its next-generation bakery-cafe restaurant design as it continues to innovate the fast-casual guest experience.
The new design will feature double drive-thru lanes, of which one lane will be assigned for the restaurant’s Rapid Pick-Up service.
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The new Panera concept will feature digitised menus both in-cafe and for drive-thru. It will also feature updated ordering kiosks with automatic loyalty identification.
Additionally, it will support contactless dine-in and delivery service.
Panera Bread chief brand and concept officer Eduardo Luz said: “Innovation is core to who we are and with our new next-generation Panera concept, we are doing what we’ve always done – keeping a personalised experience for the guest at the heart of everything we do.
“We’re doubling down on what has always made Panera unique – creating human connection through caring associates and a warm, inviting environment filled with the smell of freshly-baked bread – while continuing to be a leader in digital access for the off-premise world.”
The restaurant chain plans to open its first next-generation bakery-café in November, in Ballwin, Missouri, US.
Panera said that the bakery-cafe ovens at its new restaurant will be fully visible to its guests, so that they can witness the baking process happening throughout the day.
The new restaurant-café will also have a refreshed brand identity.
To develop the new logo and brand identity, Panera worked with brand design agency BrandOpus, while its next-generation restaurant concept was developed by ChangeUp.
As of 27 April, Panera operated 2,118 bakery-cafes across 48 states as well as Ontario, Canada, under the Panera Bread or Saint Louis Bread Co names.
