Travel food specialist HMSHost has signed an exclusive, multi-year, multi-unit development agreement with Panera Bread (Panera) that will expand the latter’s presence within major US airports and travel plazas.
As part of the agreement, HMSHost will debut two new Panera airport locations, first in North Carolina, at Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s Concourse E, and subsequently in Utah, at Salt Lake City International Airport’s Concourse A, in 2020. Additional airport and travel plaza locations are slated to open throughout 2020 and beyond.
Travelers will enjoy Panera’s classic menu of freshly prepared salads, hand-crafted sandwiches, hearty soups, creamy mac and cheese, and its popular bread bowls, as well as breakfast offerings ranging from wraps to Panera’s beloved bakery items.
The airport locations will also feature grab-and-go versions of many of Panera’s menu offerings. Airport menus will also feature Panera’s signature ‘You Pick Two’, where guests can combine menu items to craft their ideal meal. Protein-rich, vegan and vegetarian items will also be available.
“With Panera Bread as our exclusive partner, we are transforming the fast casual category in airports and highways across the USA,” said HMSHost president and CEO Steve Johnson. “With this agreement, we are answering travelers’ demand for craveable, better-for-you food, delivered fast and efficiently.”
Panera’s innovative digital kiosk ordering system, popular mobile app and Rapid Pick-Up feature make it an ideal solution for hungry, time-crunched travelers, according to HMSHost.