To better suit the needs of digital and off-premise guests, Panera Brands debuted a new digitally led bakery-cafe in New York. Notably, this new location features a 40% smaller footprint than traditional bakery-cafes and it boasts tech-fueled features like updated ordering kiosks, a fully digitized menu and a new tracking screen for detailing the status of orders.
These locations with limited counter seating options help to free up more space for the Rapid Pick-Up experience, which includes shelves for pick-up and to-go orders. With this new bakery-cafe format, Panera is incorporating its "brand world" with modern art, updated design elements and a color palette.
As digital sales continue to increase, Panera is supporting the changing ways customers prefer to place orders with a focus on convenience.
Digitally Led Bakery-Cafes
Panera's Small-Format Store Has a Digitized Menu & Tracking Screens
Trend Themes
1. Digitally-led Small-format Stores - The trend of opening small-format stores with a high level of digital integration, including kiosks and digitized menus, is growing in popularity.
2. Tech-fueled Order Tracking - Restaurants are embracing technology to streamline the ordering process and improve the customer experience, including order tracking screens that display the status of orders in real-time.
3. Optimized Space for Pick-up and To-go Orders - To meet the growing demand for takeout and delivery orders, many restaurants are optimizing their physical space for convenient pick-up and to-go orders, including dedicated shelves and pick-up areas.
Industry Implications
1. Fast Food/quick Service Restaurants - Fast food and quick service restaurants are incorporating digital technology and optimizing their physical space for pick-up and delivery orders to meet changing customer preferences.
2. Cafes and Bakeries - Cafes and bakeries are creating digitally-led small-format stores with a focus on convenience and efficient order processing.
3. Retail and Convenience Stores - Retail and convenience stores are exploring smaller, digitally-integrated formats to offer customers a quick and convenient shopping experience with a streamlined checkout process.