What Does Panera Do With Unsold Bread?

Food waste is a big problem in the United States. To help combat this in the restaurant industry, brands across the country often try to donate food that doesn't sell. There are all sorts of secrets Panera Bread doesn't want customers to know, but what the chain does with its unsold bread at the end of each day isn't one of them. Through its Day-End Dough-Nation program, Panera Bread locations bag up the bread, bagels, and baked goods that haven't sold and give them to local licensed charities. These organizations include afterschool programs, food pantries, shelters for domestic violence and homelessness, soup kitchens, and other outreach programs. This community connection is part of what makes Panera Bread one of the most charitable chain restaurants in the U.S.

Timing is key, however. Seeing as Panera doesn't use artificial preservatives, the bread only stays fresh for so long. A self-described Panera associate shared details about the process on Reddit, saying, "Most days my cafe donates our items ... If no donations are collected that day, employees can take home some items and the rest we throw away." Another Redditor who identified as a Panera employee revealed that staff members aren't allowed to donate bread that has been sliced and must toss it out. They speculated that this policy might be due to sliced bread becoming stale more quickly than whole loaves.

The Day-End Dough-Nation program is not the only way Panera Bread donates to charity. There is also the Panera Bread Foundation, a nonprofit that seeks to support at-risk and underserved youth through grants awarded to nonprofits already working in support of children. Back in 2010, Panera launched a social experiment called Panera Cares that allowed patrons in select urban locations to pay what they could afford for their order, even if that meant eating and drinking for free. The program was discontinued after nine years. Nowadays, customers can donate to the Panera Bread Foundation by visiting its website or rounding up their change at the register when making a cafe purchase. Panera states that its Give Change for Children program donates 100% of customers' rounded-up change to the Panera Bread Foundation.

In addition to Panera's unsold bread donations and other charitable efforts, the chain also offers fundraising opportunities to schools, sports teams, and other community groups and nonprofits. A fundraising coordinator works with approved applicants to schedule an event at their local Panera. Panera then allocates 20% or 25% of the total net sales made from purchases during the fundraising event to the organization.