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Panera Bread launches grocery rewards program

Shoppers who spend $20 on Panera-branded grocery items, including salad dressings and mac & cheese, can get a $5 electronic gift card to use at the fast casual’s restaurants.

Heather Lalley, Managing editor

June 28, 2023

2 Min Read
Panera Bread
Panera Bread launched a grocery rewards program to encourage customers to try its packaged foods. / Photo courtesy: Panera Bread

Panera Bread this week launched a new promotion that melds its consumer-packaged goods business with its in-restaurant offerings.

Panera Grocery Rewards, which debuted Monday and runs through the end of September, gives customers who spend $20 on Panera goods in the grocery store a $5 electronic gift card for use at the fast-casual’s restaurants. (Shoppers can earn up to two of the gift cards during the period.) To get the reward, consumers must scan their receipts to prove they’ve purchased Panera products.

“The objective of the campaign is to create awareness of Panera’s grocery products, drive long-term loyalty with Panera’s grocery products and encourage shoppers to visit the bakery-café,” a Panera spokesman said in an email to WGB.

Panera Grocery Rewards

Panera launched a grocery rewards program. / Image courtesy: Panera Bread

Panera has steadily added to its lineup of packaged foods over the years. Its Panera at Home website lists 73 products in more than 10 categories, from Autumn Squash Soup to Fuji Apple Vinaigrette to English muffins, coffee, flatbread pizzas and the brand’s popular refrigerated mac & cheese.

Panera’s products are available nationwide at retailers including Walmart, Kroger and Publix.

Panera has also recently been offering members of its rewards program a three-month free trial of Walmart , which offers free shipping, delivery and other perks.

“Order your Panera grocery faves for delivery with your Walmart membership,” one such email to customers read.

Panera said it is in a “unique position” to market its CPG and restaurant offerings side-by-side in this way, since its MyPanera loyalty program now has more than 50 million members, and it has built a diverse CPG offering. Panera operates about 2,100 restaurants around the country. 

Panera Grocery Rewards will be promoted via a robust marketing campaign that includes emails to MyPanera members, paid media across Meta’s platforms, in-grocery advertising around the country and a national partnership with more than 2,500 Planet Fitness gyms, the company said.

 

About the Author

Heather Lalley

Managing editor

Heather Lalley is the managing editor of Restaurant Business, Foodservice Director and CSP Daily news. She previously served as editor in chief of Winsight Grocery Business.

Before joining Winsight and Informa, Heather spent nearly a decade as a reporter for the daily newspaper in Spokane, Washington. She is the author of "The Chicago Homegrown Cookbook." She holds a journalism degree from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the two-year baking and pastry program at Washburne Culinary Institute in Chicago.

She is the mother of two and rarely passes up a chance to eat tater tots.

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