Company Shares Strategic Vision for Delivering on Promise of ‘Food as it Should be’
Today, Panera Bread (NASDAQ:PNRA) unveiled its first Responsibility Report to update guests, associates and other stakeholders on the Company’s strategic vision for delivering on its values and commitments. For years, Panera has been a leader in transparency as the first national restaurant to voluntarily post caloric information on menu boards and to commit to a public food policy. The 2014 Responsibility Report sets a course for Panera’s journey, inclusive of a broad range of issues both on and off the menu.
“Food as it should be is a reflection of our promise to our guests,” said Ron Shaich, founder and CEO. “That promise is more than food. It extends to wellness, environmental sustainability, our investments and our workplaces. Our aim is to make a positive difference in the communities we serve and ultimately on the food system as a whole. With this report, we share where we are on our journey and hold ourselves to goals for continued progress with transparency.”
Panera produced the Report to be in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Guidelines. The GRI framework and reporting approach is a widely accepted global standard that allows companies to measure, evaluate and communicate responsibility-related information in a consistent and comparable manner. The Company plans to issue the next Responsibility Report in 2017, with additional reporting on a biennial basis.
To learn more about Panera Bread’s 2014 Responsibility Report, please visit www.panerabread.com/responsibility.
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 every bakery-cafe, 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 were 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).
