St. Louis / MO. (pbc) Panera Bread Company announced that retail sales for Panera at Home’s Refrigerated Soup – available in most U.S. grocery retailers – exceeded USD 100 million in 2017, making Panera the first brand in the Refrigerated Soup category to reach this milestone in annual sales. As measured by IRI, a market research firm, Panera at Home’s Refrigerated Soup retail sales grew by nearly 27 percent in 2017, leading the category in growth.
«Consumers are gravitating towards the perimeter of grocery stores, looking for food with our cafe-fresh taste, made with real ingredients», said Mike Bufano, Panera at Home’s SVP and General Manager. «Across categories, Panera at Home delivers on this consumer need for food that is not only 100 percent clean, but convenient and craveable too, from a brand they love and trust. It is a true extension of the Panera Bread brand beyond the bakery-cafe».
Panera’s strong growth can be attributed in large part to the company’s commitment to 100 percent clean food – free from artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors and colors from artificial sources – across its entire U.S. bakery-cafe food menu and Panera at Home portfolio, which consists of approximately 100 products available at grocery retailers, supercenters and club stores nationwide.
Panera at Home offers more than 15 varieties of soup to meet consumers’ needs, from Broccoli Cheddar Soup for consumers craving the bakery-cafe’s indulgent favorite to the new Türkiye Sausage, Kale + Quinoa Soup for consumers wanting a flavorful soup made with on-trend, nutritious ingredients.
Broccoli Cheddar is Panera’s best-seller across its restaurants and grocery retailers. This year alone, consumers enjoyed approximately 130 million cups of Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup in cafes and at home.
Versatility is also driving growth for Panera at Home soups, which can be conveniently enjoyed as a warm lunch, dinner, or snack, or as a recipe starter. There are more than 100, 30-minute or less meal ideas using Panera at Home products at www.paneraathome.com.
In addition to Refrigerated Soup, the Panera at Home portfolio includes Refrigerated Mac + Cheese, Refrigerated Salad Dressing, Sliced Sandwich Bread, and Ground Coffee. More information on Panera at Home – including product varieties, recipes, and where to buy – is available online at paneraathome.com.
