Panera Bread
Overview
Panera Bread is ready for an epochal change in American eating habits. The company is a leader in the quick-casual restaurant business with more than 1,027 bakery-cafes in 36 states. Its locations, which operate under the Panera and Saint Louis Bread Company banners, offer made-to-order sandwiches built using a variety of artisan breads, including Asiago cheese bread, focaccia, and its classic sourdough bread. Its menu also features soups, salads, and gourmet coffees. In addition, Panera sells its bread, bagels, and pastries to go. Almost 400 of its locations are company-operated, while the rest are run by franchisees. Panera Bread's is trying to provide premium specialty bakery and café experience to urban workers and suburban dwellers. They want to make the experience of dining at Panera so attractive that customers would be willing to pass by the outlets of other fast-casual restaurants competitors to dine at a near-by Panera Bread. They have strong competition through-out the whole fast-food/restaurant business. Two main competitors that they have are Starbucks and Einstein Bagels. They are a proven company that is always looking for ways to move forward, and advance their business.
1. What is Panera Bread's strategy? What type of competitive advantage is Panera Bread trying to achieve?
Panera Bread's strategy is to provide premium specialty bakery and café experience to urban workers and suburban dwellers. Panera is trying to be "better than the guys across the street." They are trying to make the experience of dining at Panera so attractive that customers would be willing to pass by the outlets of other fast-casual restaurants competitors to dine at a near-by Panera Bread.
2. What does a SWOT analysis of Panera Bread reveal about the overall attractiveness of its situation? Does the company have any core competencies or distinctive competencies?
Panera's Resource Strengths and Competitive Assets:
Leading bakery-café
Panera Bread is ready for an epochal change in American eating habits. The company is a leader in the quick-casual restaurant business with more than 1,027 bakery-cafes in 36 states. Its locations, which operate under the Panera and Saint Louis Bread Company banners, offer made-to-order sandwiches built using a variety of artisan breads, including Asiago cheese bread, focaccia, and its classic sourdough bread. Its menu also features soups, salads, and gourmet coffees. In addition, Panera sells its bread, bagels, and pastries to go. Almost 400 of its locations are company-operated, while the rest are run by franchisees. Panera Bread's is trying to provide premium specialty bakery and café experience to urban workers and suburban dwellers. They want to make the experience of dining at Panera so attractive that customers would be willing to pass by the outlets of other fast-casual restaurants competitors to dine at a near-by Panera Bread. They have strong competition through-out the whole fast-food/restaurant business. Two main competitors that they have are Starbucks and Einstein Bagels. They are a proven company that is always looking for ways to move forward, and advance their business.
1. What is Panera Bread's strategy? What type of competitive advantage is Panera Bread trying to achieve?
Panera Bread's strategy is to provide premium specialty bakery and café experience to urban workers and suburban dwellers. Panera is trying to be "better than the guys across the street." They are trying to make the experience of dining at Panera so attractive that customers would be willing to pass by the outlets of other fast-casual restaurants competitors to dine at a near-by Panera Bread.
2. What does a SWOT analysis of Panera Bread reveal about the overall attractiveness of its situation? Does the company have any core competencies or distinctive competencies?
Panera's Resource Strengths and Competitive Assets:
Leading bakery-café
Bibliography: Panera Bread: Rising To The Challenge. David Kretzmann http://seekingalpha.com/article/24944-panera-bread-rising-to-the-challenge