Panera Drops New Value Menu: ‘A Deal That’s Actually a Meal'

Panera is launching a new value menu that it says offers a fresh upgrade and a new way to enjoy a few of its delicious meal options.

The popular fast-casual restaurant chain announced today that it’s offering new budget-friendly meals with “no compromises.” Its new value-oriented menu, the “Mix & Match,” appears to be part of the company’s overall strategy to transform Panera over the next few years. It also seems to aim to recreate the success of Panera’s “You Pick 2” menu, at an even more affordable price point with even more options.

“The Panera Mix & Match Menu is Panera at its best: delicious menu offerings made from thoughtfully sourced, quality ingredients like Fuji apples, spicy soppressata or focaccia bread-now brought together on a value menu designed to offer a deal that’s actually a meal,” Panera Bread’s chief marketing officer Mark Shambura shared in a statement. “With the Mix & Match Menu, Panera is introducing the first value menu of its kind–one that doesn’t require compromise and makes it easy for guests to combine quality, craveable selections into a meal that truly satisfies at a great value.”

Panera Launches New “Mix & Match” Value Menu

According to the Feb. 25 press release, Panera’s “Mix & Match” menu, like its “You Pick 2,” offers customers the option of choosing several menu favorites in slightly smaller portions (when compared to the original entrée).

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The new value menu functions similarly to Panera’s You Pick 2, except guests aren’t limited to just two choices, and the prices of the menu items are standard (unlike Panera’s You Pick 2, which range in price from about $5.49 to $8.79). Instead, customers can choose any menu items they’d like to mix and match that day, from two to all 10, for just $4.99 each and every order comes with one free side: a baguette, chips, or an apple.

Panera’s Mix & Match Menu offers half (or cup-sized) portions of 10 “guest favorites,” including several soups, salads and sandwiches, along with a rotating seasonal item that will change at several points throughout the year. The popular items debuting as part of the restaurant chain’s new value menu are:

• Half Sandwiches: Toasted Italiano, Toasted Caprese Focaccia, Bacon Turkey Bravo, Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad.
• Half Salads: Fuji Apple Chicken, Ranch Parm BLT, Caesar.
• Cups of Soup: Creamy Tomato, Homestyle Chicken Noodle, Bistro French Onion.

Panera’s Mix & Match menu is now available at participating cafes in the United States, whether you order in-store or online. And just to be clear, this isn’t replacing Panera’s You Pick 2.

That said, there are a few standard stipulations guests should know about before ordering from the new value menu. First, no upgrades or substitutions can be made, and modifications to the items may come with a surcharge, both of which are pretty standard line items on all value menus. All orders (regardless of how many items) will include only one side, and prices may vary slightly based on location or if customers choose delivery.

What do you think of Panera’s new Mix & Match menu? Let us know in the comments!

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