Food & Beverage
5 million is not enough: Panera extends pizza line
January 13, 2021
You will excuse Panera leaders if lately they seem to be smiling a lot more, after revealing that sales of their flatbread pizzas — introduced in late October 2020 — are through the roof, according to Chief Brand & Concept Officer Eduardo Luz. In fact, they've done so well, that today, the fast casual brand is adding two flatbread pizza varieties.
"Flatbread Pizzas are performing well beyond our projections — we've served more than five million since we launched a few weeks back," Luz told this website.
"Our guests are loving the crisp crust and fresh flavors, and now with the addition of pepperoni and four cheese (flatbread pizzas), they have five delicious choices the next time they order Panera for curbside pickup or delivery."
The company has reserved a special place for pizza at its restaurants, and the addition of pepperoni only adds to that, considering that Panera data indicated that 53% of Americans ranked pepperoni as their favorite topping.
The pepperoni flatbread pies feature stone-baked flatbread, tomato sauce, mozzarella, fontina and pepperoni, while the four-cheese variety has garlic cream sauce, Parmesan, mozzarella, feta crumbles and a fontina/mozzarella cheese blend. Both cost $8.99.
The pizzas are available in U.S. stores, along with the chain's other LTO — Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli Bowl — which has seared chicken thighs, teriyaki, pickled red onions, cucumbers, greens cilantro and mayo on ciabatta bread for $10.99.
Compilation meals featuring the pizzas, including one with two pizzas and two salads for $23 and another with three pizzas and two salads for $29, are also available.
Panera is based in St. Louis and has more than 2,000 stores in its system.
