Panera announced the launch of Panera Grocery, a new service enabling guests to purchase high-demand pantry items such as milk, bread and fresh produce, alongside Panera soup, salads and sandwiches.  Leveraging the Panera supply network of clean ingredients, Panera Grocery can be ordered on the Panera app or website and is available via contactless delivery, Rapid Pick-Up, Drive-Up and Drive-Thru, as well as through contact-free delivery via Grubhub.

"From limited choices on grocery shelves to the growing need to limit the number of trips outside of the home, it is an incredibly stressful time when it comes to putting wholesome food on the table, and we knew Panera could help," said Niren Chaudhary, Panera chief executive officer.  "With this new service we can help deliver good food and fresh ingredients from our pantry to yours, helping provide better access to essential items that are increasingly harder to come by."

Panera Grocery is easily ordered alongside your favorite Panera meal at participating cafes nationwide.  Just select "Panera Grocery" in the Panera app or on the website, or find the "Panera Grocery" items on Grubhub, and add the items to your order.  For MyPanera members, Panera Grocery orders will serve as a visit toward future MyPanera rewards.  Items currently available on Panera Grocery include fresh produce, freshly baked breads and bagels, and milk, yogurt and cream cheese.

Panera Grocery items are free of artificial preservatives, flavors, sweeteners and colors from artificial sources.  Panera Grocery is a separate, ingredients-based service operated out of Panera bakery cafes. 

The company said it continues to take steps to safely serve communities during these trying times.  These include: serving guests via only a "to-go" model in all company cafes; contactless curbside service; contactless delivery; mindful packaging for all to-go orders; enhanced, rigorous cleaning and sanitization procedures.