Panera is testing two new premium specialty beverage categories in select restaurants in three markets, the company announced on Oct. 15.
Panera Bread renovated the former Freddy's Steakburgers restaurant at 1702 East Greenville St in Anderson, S.C. and has a sign at the front door that reads "opening soon."

Panera Bread customers may soon begin to see new locations pop up and new menu offerings when they visit.

The fast casual chain announced on Nov. 18 a new "transformation strategy designed to guide the next phase of Panera's growth" called Panera RISE. According to the company, the strategy will focus on four pillars:

  • Refreshing the menu
  • Igniting value
  • Serving guests with excellence
  • Expanding its network

The company says it plans to elevate Panera's food to incorporate "abundant, flavorful and distinctive, high-quality" ingredients, as well as delivering high-quality food at a "variety of price points that remains accessible and affordable."

“Over the past year we have made considerable progress in strengthening our foundation to better serve our guests," said Paul Carbone, CEO of Panera Bread, in a news release on Nov. 18. "Panera RISE is a momentum driver, grounded in the areas of differentiation that have made Panera an iconic brand for nearly 40 years.”

Carbone also said he is "incredibly confident that Panera RISE is the roadmap" that will drive the company's long-term growth.

In an interview with CNBC, Carbone said phase one of Panera's plan is to improve the quality of its food, reversing cost-cutting measures imposed in the face of high inflation.

Strategy comes after Panera layoffs, end of fresh dough production nationwide

The announcement comes months after Panera permanently shut down its fresh dough production facilities in areas with underperforming locations as part of its nationwide effort to move away from baking bread from scratch in its cafés.

According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications notice in July, a production facility in Brentwood, Missouri, was scheduled to close by Sept. 12, with all 72 employees set to lose their jobs as a result.

As of June 24, four locations across the U.S. had already shut down operations, per Nation’s Restaurant News.

At the time, Panera said affected employees would receive a severance package as well as outplacement services.

The Missouri location was the latest in a series of closures the company has undertaken in the last year as it transitions to a new model for how it makes its baked goods. Panera said it plans to shutter all of its remaining fresh dough facilities within the next two years.

Panera testing new caffeinated beverages after Charged Lemonade controversy

Panera announced in October it is testing two new "premium specialty" beverage categories in select restaurants in three markets – Nashville, Mobile/Pensacola, and Baltimore.

The drinks, called Frescas and Energy Refreshers, will be made by Panera baristas and will feature an "infusion of real fruit for a premium beverage experience full of refreshing flavor," according to a news release. The 12-week test will run from Oct. 15 through Jan. 6 in approximately 65 Panera locations.

While the Frescas will be a caffeine-free beverage option, the Energy Refreshers will contain caffeine, Panera said in the news release.

“The beverage landscape is expanding fast and now more than ever guests are seeking flavorful, refreshing, and innovative beverage options as a reason to come into our bakery-cafes,” said Brooke Buchanan, chief corporate affairs officer at Panera Bread, in the news release.

In May 2024, Panera removed its line of Charged Lemonade drinks from its menu after being hit with several lawsuits.

The chain introduced the line of highly caffeinated beverages in 2022. Two lawsuits, filed in October and December 2023, alleged the drink's caffeine contents caused fatal cardiac arrests. A third lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleged the drink caused permanent heart issues.

After the initial lawsuit, Panera changed the labels on the Charged Lemonade products, saying in a statement the company had "enhanced our existing caffeine disclosure for these beverages" out of "an abundance of caution."

In January 2024, Panera removed the drinks from self-serve fountains.

The drinks were previously reported as having 260 milligrams of caffeine in a regular size drink and as much as 390 milligrams in a large drink.

The Food and Drug Administration says most adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, about equal to 4-5 cups of brewed coffee.

Contributing: Ahmed Jawadi, USA TODAY Network; Mike Snider, USA TODAY

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Panera wants to improve your experience at its restaurants. See how.

Reporting by Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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