Panera Bread's Slogans & Taglines

Panera Bread is an American bakery-café fast-casual restaurant chain founded in 1987 as The St. Louis Bread Company by Ken and Linda Rosenthal in Kirkwood, Missouri. In 1993, Au Bon Pain Co. acquired the chain, and in 1997 it was renamed Panera Bread—derived from the Latin word for "bread basket." The brand pioneered the fast-casual dining category, emphasising freshly baked artisan bread, clean ingredients, and a welcoming atmosphere. In 1999, the company sold Au Bon Pain to focus exclusively on the Panera concept. Today, headquartered in Sunset Hills, Missouri, and owned by JAB Holding Company, the chain operates over 2,200 locations across 48 U.S. states, Washington D.C. and Ontario, Canada. The menu spans soups, salads, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, pastries, and coffee, crafted with responsibly raised proteins and clean ingredients.

Brand messaging has evolved from the founding mission A loaf of bread in every arm to the 2013 purpose-driven platform Live Consciously. Eat Deliciously, reflecting its commitment to transparency and quality. The positioning was later refined to Food as it should be, underscoring its clean-ingredient promise, while the current identity embraces The Familiar, Made Fantastic—a celebration of chef-curated recipes that honour everyday favourites through thoughtful preparation and premium ingredients.