Panera Bread Mission and Vision Statement Analysis

Are you hungry to discover the secret of the success of Panera Bread?

The American chain of bakery-café fast-casual restaurants has been operating for nearly four decades. The company offers a fun and simple dining experience that is driven by fresh and tasty dishes and products.

Panera Bread boasts clear and dynamic mission and vision statements as well as core values. These elements provide an insight into how the company operates and its goals for the future.

So, let’s make a detailed Panera Bread mission and vision statement analysis to find out more about this fascinating company.

Company History

Panera Bread started in 1987 as The St. Louis Bread Company. This company was founded by Ken and Linda Rosenthal in the city of Kirkwood, Missouri. The company was established on the concept of providing fresh baked goods using natural ingredients.

Panera Bread acquired the Au Bon Pain brand in 2017. This important acquisition has helped the company to grow significantly. Not only did it take over from one of its major competitors, but the company also gained numerous popular recipes.

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Delivery services to 900 cities!

In 2018, Panera Bread introduced delivery services to nearly nine hundred cities. The company employed its own drivers, which led to the creation of 13,000 jobs. The delivery service made it possible for customers to enjoy their favorite menu items in the comfort of their own homes.

Today, the company boasts more than two thousand branches throughout the United States and Canada. Panera Bread is among the restaurant chains credited as being the driving force behind the artisanal bread craze in the United States. Today, customers can enjoy a wide range of menu items, including sandwiches, salad, soup, bakery items, specialty drinks, pasta, and even pizza.

Panera Bread Mission Statement

The company boasts a short and simple mission statement of ‘a loaf of bread in every arm’. This reflects the company’s origins as a simple bakery and makes it clear what the company specializes in. There are two main elements in the mission statement that can be explored in more detail.

Exceeding expectations

While bread is the foundation of the company, customers can enjoy a wide range of other products. The company’s concept is based on the idea of greeting customers with fresh and tasty treats. Seasonal items are regularly added to the menu, while the designs on sweet and savory treats impress and delight customers.

In every arm

This section of the mission statement relates to the way Panera Bread has grown and expanded over the years. The company has grown from a simple bakery to a chain that stretches across the United States and Canada. This has helped the company to attract a large customer base, which is constantly growing.

Panera Bread Vision Statement

Panera Bread’s vision statement starts with ‘to continue to be a leader in the fast-casual dining and quick service industry.’ It concludes with ‘putting an emphasis on employee development and providing our community with healthy food choices while maximizing profits for their shareholders.’

This long vision statement reveals the main focus of the company and can be broken down into three main elements.

Be a leader

While the company operates within the requirements of the fast-food industry, it employs innovative tactics. Panera Bread was one of the first fast-food chains to offer full ingredients lists and nutritional values for its products. This move has become very popular and has encouraged other fast-food franchisees to follow suit.

Healthy food choices

The company is committed to providing only products of first-rate quality. These baked goods and other products are created with fresh and natural ingredients. Panera Bread provides full ingredients lists for their menu items to help customers make healthier choices.

For the community

Even though the company owns numerous locations, they are focused on the community. This can be seen in the special community programs and projects that they run. These projects are aimed at serving members of the community in the best way possible.

Core Values

The company operates under the motto ‘respect and being customer-centric’. All Panera Bread employees are expected to embrace this value in everything that they do. Two main elements can be explored in more detail.

Respect

For each location to thrive, employees need to work closely as part of a team. Employees are treated to special team building days to help them relate to each other.

This minimizes the incidents of conflict in the workplace and helps each location to run efficiently. Panera Bread strives to create a fun working environment where employees can rely on each other.

Customer-Centric

Employees are expected to treat customers with respect and put their needs first at all times. This helps to create customer satisfaction as well as a large and loyal customer base. People who visit a restaurant franchise can be sure they will be treated fairly at all times.

Panera Bread’s Food Policy

In 2014, Panera Bread released its innovative Food Policy, which the company published on its website. This policy relates to the company’s philosophy on food and helps customers to know what the company stands for. It is composed of seven main elements that customers from all walks of life can relate to.

Clean Ingredients

Panera Bread is committed to sourcing high-quality ingredients that are as close to nature as possible. Menu items are created without the addition of MSG, artificial trans fats, and other artificial ingredients. This allows customers to indulge in their favorite snacks and menu items without worrying about consuming unwanted ingredients.

Transparent Menu

Each menu item comes with clearly printed lists of ingredients and nutritional values. This makes it easy for customers to choose how they want to eat. Customers with special dietary requirements and allergies can make choices that meet their needs.

Positive Impact

The company is committed to making sure that customers know what is in their food. This includes providing details on where each ingredient is sourced. Panera Bread is also committed to providing information on how companies impact the food system.

Social Responsibility

In 2010, the company launched Panera Cares, which is a chain of non-profit restaurants. The first of these restaurants was launched in St. Louis with the concept of ‘pay what you can.’ This is intended to make healthy and tasty food available to everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Free-range eggs

In 2015, Panera Bread announced the intention to only use free-range eggs by 2020. The company also announced the intention to use more plant-based proteins like organic quinoa and edamame. This helps to make the company’s menu items available to people who are committed to ethical and healthy eating.

Community giving

From the start, the company has been committed to helping the community. This can be seen in the Day-End Dough-Nation program, which donates unsold bakery items to hunger relief agencies and charities.

Each year, the bakery-café chain donates more than $100 million worth of unsold bread and baked goods to local organizations. The company also donates fresh bakery products to support the events that are run by nonprofit organizations.

Clean consultations

In 2016, Panera Bread announced that its menu was free from artificial ingredients, preservatives, and GMOs. This move has allowed people with concerns over processed food and GMO crops to enjoy the company’s products. Panera Bread is committed to transparency, which allows customers to enjoy the company’s products with confidence.

Looking For Superb Bakery Opportunities?

Of course, we’re first going to take a look at my Panera Bread Application and Panera Bread Interview Questions! Next, we also have our Einstein Bros Bagels Application, Mcalisters Deli Application, our Firehouse Subs Application, and our Jersey Mikes Subs Application for application in 2023.

But that’s not all! Check out our additional Perkins Restaurant And Bakery Application, or perhaps our Gloria Jeans Coffees Application, and Brueggers Bagels Application, as well as the ever-popular Subway Application and Subway Interview Questions along with Does Subway Drug Test before applying.

If you’re not sure which position would suit you best, you can choose from my in-depth Cashier Job Description and Fast Food Cashier Job Description, or how about my Waitress Job Description, and finally my Chef Job Description and Chef Interview Questions to find out!

Final Thoughts

The main mission of Panera Bread is to provide customers with clean, healthy, and natural food. The company’s commitment to quality has helped it to gain a legion of loyal followers over the years. The company also engages with and aims to improve the community, allowing customers to feel good about eating there.

Another reason that the company has remained popular over the decades is its commitment to innovation. Panera Bread is constantly adding new elements to the restaurants and the already extensive menu. This includes the addition of pizza to the menu in 2020 and fresh and tasty bagels in 2021.

Visitors can be sure that there will always be something fresh and new for them to discover.

Good luck and all the best in getting a job at Panera Bread!