Panera Store Upgrades Boost Sales

Panera Bread Co.’s redesigned stores are paying big dividends. Same-store sales at the St. Louis chain’s company-owned locations climbed 4.7% in the first 27 days of the third quarter, nearly doubling the 2.4% gain in the second quarter.

The revamped Panera 2.0 stores are helping, as is a bigger focus on natural ingredients. As of the end of last quarter, 183 of Panera’s unit had switched to the new format; there are plans to convert about 300 company-owned locations during this fiscal year.