Panera Bread® is One of the First Restaurant Concepts to Post Calorie Information on all Main Menu Boards in Canadian Locations
Panera Bread confirms its commitment to empowering and educating Canadians on smart eating
TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2012 /CNW/ - Panera Bread has announced that it will post calorie information on all Panera Bread bakery-cafe menu boards in its Canadian locations starting on September 12, 2012. This will make Panera Bread one of the first restaurants to voluntarily post calorie information on menu boards in Canada.
"We are pleased to further our commitment in Canada by being one of the first restaurants to provide this level of transparency to customers," said Scott Davis, Panera Bread Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Concept Officer. "It comes from our commitment to providing nutrition information and wholesome foods our customers can trust."
Panera Bread first opened its doors to Canadians in 2008 and has since expanded to six locations in the GTA including Square One in Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Downtown Toronto, Oakville and Sherway Gardens. This menu labeling effort is part of Panera's long-standing dedication to providing customers with nutritious choices and the information to make wise decisions for themselves. As the first restaurant to post calorie information in all of its cafes in the United States as of January 2011 and one of the first to do so in Canada as of September 2012, Panera Bread has become an industry leader in menu transparency.
"When we introduced our new menu boards in the States, customers responded very favorably," Davis said. "They tend to gravitate towards options that allow them to customize their meals such as our You Pick Two® menu option where they can pair smaller portions of our soups, salads or sandwiches to create a meal with fewer calories."
"This whole initiative prompted us to take an even closer look at our menu offerings," Davis said. "The result was that we improved the nutritional content and ingredients in several of our menu items. We view it as a 'win-win' for both our customers and Panera."
In addition to the calorie information on the menu boards, nutrition information is available at www.paneracatering.ca. Customers can also find more complete nutrition information in all Panera Bread bakery-cafes by asking an associate to see a nutritional binder.
"Our efforts in this area will continue to evolve," said Davis. "We support initiatives that promote greater transparency and nutritious choices for our customers."
About Panera Bread
Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,591 bakery-cafes as of June 26, 2012 under the Panera Bread®, Saint Louis Bread Co.®, and Paradise Bakery & Café® names. Our bakery-cafes are principally located in suburban, strip mall and regional mall locations. We feature high quality, reasonably priced food in a warm, inviting, and comfortable environment. With our identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh-baked, artisan bread, we are committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. Nearly all of our bakery-cafes have a menu highlighted by antibiotic-free chicken, whole grain bread, and select organic and all-natural ingredients, with zero grams of artificial trans fat per serving, which provide flavorful, wholesome offerings. Our menu includes a wide variety of year-round favorites complemented by new items introduced seasonally with the goal of creating new standards in everyday food choices. In neighbourhoods across North America, our customers enjoy our warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor, and free internet access. Our bakery-cafes routinely donate bread and baked goods to community organizations in need. Additional information is available on our website, http://www.panerabread.com.
SOURCE: Panera Bread
Media Contact:
Meghan Neufeld
416-473-6306, [email protected]
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