Panera Bread has spent much of the past year changing what customers see when they walk into its restaurants.<\/p>\n
To keep freshness alive and as part of its broader Panera RISE transformation strategy, the fast-casual restaurant is working overtime to cater to its customers.<\/p>\n
The latest change is in how it tries to keep customers coming back.<\/p>\n
Panera has rolled out a new points-based MyPanera rewards program<\/a> for its more than 70 million loyalty members.<\/p>\n The change comes shortly after Andrew Rebhun joined Panera<\/a> as chief marketing officer, putting the chain’s brand, digital business, loyalty program, and menu innovation under new leadership.<\/p>\n Rebhun, who has previously worked at Cava and held roles at McDonald’s, replaces Mark Shambura, who helped launch Panera’s RISE strategy.<\/p>\n His appointment puts an executive with experience in loyalty and digital growth in charge as Panera tries to get more out of an already massive customer base.<\/p>\n This new move places greater focus on customer retention as Panera continues its broader reset, which has included menu changes, restaurant closures, layoffs, and a major overhaul of its bakery production network.<\/p>\n Panera’s new loyalty program launched nationwide in August, replacing its previous rewards structure with a more traditional points system.<\/p>\n Members now earn 10 points for every $1 spent. <\/p>\n Rewards start at 250 points for a free bagel or mini bakery item and rise to 2,000 points for a full entree.<\/p>\n More Retail:<\/strong><\/p>\n And don’t worry, previously earned rewards will carry over into the new program.<\/p>\n “From everyday favorites to exclusive offers, we have reimagined MyPanera to deliver more value with every purchase,” said Chief Digital Officer Joshua Fine.<\/p>\n The newly revised program offers what customers want most: “more transparency, better rewards, and more choice,” Fine added.<\/p>\n The chain also introduced MyPanera+, available to members who spend at least $300 in a calendar year. This will include additional benefits such as a birthday You Pick Two meal and bonus points on delivery purchases.<\/p>\n And its MyPanera+ Sip Club combines those benefits with Panera’s existing beverage subscription.<\/p>\n The new structure gives customers a clearer connection between spending and rewards at a time when restaurant chains are competing harder for repeat visits from value-conscious diners.<\/p>\n UCG \/ Getty Images<\/a><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The loyalty overhaul is only one part of Panera’s broader transformation. Earlier this summer, the chain expanded its menu with new Market Bowls, premium salads, proteins, and frozen coffee beverages.<\/p>\n TheStreet previously reported that Panera also brought shrimp back<\/a> to its menu after roughly a decade as it sought to expand its protein offerings.<\/p>\n Behind the scenes, Panera has been making even bigger changes.<\/p>\n Panera is closing all its regional Fresh Dough Facilities<\/a> as it moves away from its longtime in-house dough-production network and toward outside artisan baking partners.<\/p>\n The company has also been reshaping its restaurant footprint. TheStreet reported in June that Panera had closed at least two dozen<\/a> bakery-cafes across several states since the previous summer, even as it continued to open new locations.<\/p>\n However, based on TheStreet’s tally, Panera had 2,208 bakery cafes as of July 2025.<\/p>\n By July 28, 2026, that number had risen to 2,251, a net increase of 43 locations, despite the closures.<\/p>\n It suggests that the company is not simply shrinking its footprint, but repositioning it.<\/p>\n Panera is changing several parts of its business at once, including where it operates, how it produces its food, what it serves, and now how it rewards customers.<\/p>\n Currently, it already has more than 70 million MyPanera members.<\/p>\n The bigger question is whether a simpler rewards system and a new marketing chief can turn that enormous membership base into more frequent visits.<\/p>\nWhat is Panera’s new reward program?<\/h2>\n
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Panera’s reset goes beyond rewards<\/strong><\/h2>\n