Panera Anticipating 200-Plus New Jobs in CT With Expanded Offerings

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Panera Bread Co. officials on Tuesday said they expect to have created 235 new jobs after all expanded services are phased-in by the end of 2017.

The hiring figure represents a combination of delivery drivers and in-café associates, officials at the St. Louis-based restaurant chain said.

The plans are for the chain to expand delivery service at 35 to 40 percent of its cafes, offering lunch and dinner services to businesses and homes, typically within an eight-minute drive of a Panera bakery-cafe. Cafes will generally deliver between the hours of 11 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week, for as little as a $5 menu purchase plus a $3 delivery fee in most locations, Panera officials said.

In addition, Panera is currently rolling out a new order tracking system, powered by Bringg technology, which lets customers track their delivery order all the way to their homes or offices. Customers can see expected arrival time, follow the delivery’s progress on a map, see a picture of and be introduced to their driver, and receive a notification when their driver is arriving.

As part of the delivery service launch this month, for every delivery Panera makes, the company donate a meal to a senior in Connecticut through Meals on Wheels, restaurant officials said.

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