12 Reasons Why Panera Is So Expensive for a Sandwich and Soup Spot

Get to Know the Panera Brand

Panera became a restaurant in 1987. It started out as a simple bakery in St. Louis. The company has always been committed to only putting the freshest and cleanest ingredients into their food. Panera Bread Company can be found in 48 states. This brand is also known as Saint Louis Bread Co. in some areas of the country. When it comes to prices, it’s important to remember that Panera is a step up from fast food. This means that their prices will not be competitive with say prices you find at McDonalds. With that fact in mind, let’s take a look at the reasons why Panera Bread Company is so expensive.

Commitment to Fresh Ingredients

At Panera, you can find several unique dishes to choose from. This means the company is selective with what goes into their food, choosing only to provide fresh ingredients to meet their high-quality standards. This is one reason why Panera is so expensive for a bread and soup spot.

Prioritizes Clean Ingredients

Along with fresh ingredients, Panera prioritizes clean ingredients as well. The company pays more attention to what additives and preservatives are in ingredients and chooses not to allow these options a chance to make it into their dishes. Panera is transparent with the ingredients they say no to and even has a no-no list posted on their website. This no-no list includes ingredients like calcium bromate, salatrim, and advantame. Take a look at their complete no-no list here.

Quality Sourcing

Another reason that Panera’s prices are higher has to do with their choosiness in sourcing. The company doesn’t just want to source its ingredients through anyone. They take great care when making this decision for quality. Panera takes a look at the freshness, quality, and origin of the ingredients before making any commitment.

Variety in Menu Choices

Since Panera takes great care with its quality sourcing, its menu choices change often. This is typically because freshness plays a part in their menu options. They choose to provide customers with in-season ingredients. Some delicious, seasonal items they carry include vegetarian autumn squash soup available in the fall or the strawberry poppyseed with chicken salad during the summer.

Artisanal Bread Making

Panera is a step up from fast food for several reasons, however one is because of their artisanal bread making. The company hires bakers who are trained in crafting fresh pastries and breads. This in itself takes plenty of time, skill, and care to create fresh bread and pastries every day.

Comfortable Ambiance

Walking into a Panera will immediately put you at ease. This can be in part because of their comfortable ambiance. The restaurant has dimmer lighting, fireplaces scattered throughout the restaurant, and an inviting atmosphere.

Relaxing Atmosphere

This calming atmosphere is meant to create a place where diners feel relaxed and at home, a communal space where you can chill and chat with your family. No rushing is necessary at Panera.

Menu Innovations

Panera is always striving to create menu options that are innovative and give customers what they want. They go above and beyond to incorporate seasonal ingredients with new specials, unique twists, and comforting favorites together. These innovations intrigue guests into trying something new. Their menu is always full of surprises which keep diners coming back.

Boast “Healthier” Options

Panera has always been considered healthy. This is apparent in their commitment to fresh and clean ingredients. Additionally, Panera Bread was the first national restaurant chain to post calories for their meals online voluntarily. Paving the way for other restaurants to follow suit.

Furthermore, Panera chooses to forgo additives, preservatives, chemicals, and more. This combined with their plant-based and lean meat options means that this restaurant offers plenty of healthier options.

They Keep Fresh Produce in Stock

Not only does Panera have a commitment to fresh bakery options, but they also choose to keep fresh produce in stock. They choose to make their dishes with fresh produce and forgo the frozen alternatives.

Panera isn’t Fast Food, It’s a Bakery

Since Panera is pretty fast with their customer service and when you order your meal, it’s easy to confuse it with a fast-food restaurant. However, Panera isn’t fast food. It’s a fast-casual bakery. This in itself means that their prices will be higher than your typical fast-food restaurant. After all, you can’t typically walk into a bakery and expect to pay the same amount you would at a restaurant like Taco Bell or McDonalds.

Considers Environmental Impact

Panera also considers the environmental impact for each of its company decisions. They have taken great care to consider the impact they are making on the environment and even have created a responsibility update, with the most recent one being in 2023.

One Last Note

There are so many reasons that contribute to the price of Panera Bread’s menu items. Their specialty items are only available at certain times during the year, as they consider freshness when creating their menu. Additionally, Panera takes quality and clean ingredients seriously. These reasons alone can mean you are paying a little more for higher-quality choices. To many people, the prices at Panera are well worth the extra care they put into creating the best for their customers.