Panera Bread, established in 1987 as the St. Louis Bread Company, was acquired by Au Bon Pain Co. in 1993 and later rebranded to Panera. Known for its bakery-café model, Panera offers a variety of fresh bread, sandwiches, salads, soups, and specialty drinks. Panera is committed to providing "clean" food, which means they use ingredients free of artificial additives. They have implemented significant technology enhancements in their service model, such as digital ordering and Panera 2.0, which includes features like mobile ordering and rapid pick-up options. With over 2,000 locations, Panera continues to be a leader in the fast-casual dining segment, focusing on high-quality food in a welcoming environment