Panera Bread plans large-scale layoffs as production of raw dough ends
Panera Bread plans to lay off hundreds of employees as it phases out production of raw dough across the United States.
Unbranded – Newsworthy
If you frequent Panera Bread, you may soon see new drink options on the menu, but only in select cities.
The restaurant chain announced Oct. 15 that it is testing two new “premium specialty” beverage categories at select restaurants in three markets: Nashville, Mobile/Pensacola and Baltimore.
The drinks, called Fresca and Energy Refresher, are created by Panera baristas and feature “a premium drinking experience infused with real fruit and full of refreshing flavor,” according to a news release. The 12-week test will run from October 15th to January 6th at approximately 65 Panera stores.
Fresca will be a caffeine-free beverage option, while Energy Refresher will contain caffeine, Panera said in a news release.
Each drink has two flavor options:
- Fresh cherry lime: A delightful blend of cherry and lime flavors infused with real dried tart cherries.
- Fresh hibiscus pomegranate: A refreshing, naturally flavored, caffeine-free herbal tea with pomegranate juice infused with real dragon fruit.
- Dragon Fruit Sunset Energy Refresher: A refreshing, caffeinated blend of pineapple and tropical dragonfruit flavors infused with real dragonfruit. They contain approximately 28 milligrams of caffeine in 20 fluid liters. 42 milligrams of caffeine in an ounce cup of ice, 30 fluid liters. A cup with an ounce of ice.
- Passion Fruit Paradise Energy Refresher: A fruity, caffeinated blend of passion fruit, guava and orange flavors combined with fresh pineapple. They contain approximately 28 milligrams of caffeine in 20 fluid liters. 44 milligrams of caffeine in an ounce cup of ice, 30 fluid liters. A cup with an ounce of ice.
“The beverage industry is rapidly expanding, and more guests than ever are looking for flavorful, refreshing and innovative beverage options to visit our bakery cafes,” Panera Bread Chief Executive Officer Brooke Buchanan said in a news release.
Fresca and Energy Refresher will be available for dine-in, delivery, rapid pickup and drive-thru at participating testing locations, Panera said.
New beverage launches in wake of charged lemonade lawsuit
In May 2024, Panera removed its line of charged lemonade drinks from its menu after being hit with multiple lawsuits.
The company introduced a line of high-caffeine beverages in 2022. Two lawsuits, filed in October and December 2023, allege that the drinks’ caffeine content caused fatal cardiac arrest. A third lawsuit, filed in 2024, claims the drink causes permanent heart disease.
After the initial lawsuit, Panera changed the labeling of its Charged Lemonade products, saying in a statement that the company had “strengthened existing caffeine disclosures for these beverages” out of “an abundance of caution.”
In January 2024, Panera removed drinks from its self-serve fountains.
These drinks were previously reported to contain as much as 260 milligrams of caffeine in a regular-sized drink and 390 milligrams in a large-sized drink.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, most adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is roughly equivalent to four to five cups of freshly brewed coffee.
Gabe Hauari is USA TODAY’s national trends news reporter. You can follow him at X @gabehauari Or email Gdhauari@gannett.com.
Follow Mike Snyder on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mike snyder.
