S21E10: Can Panera’s Turnaround Plan Actually Work? Strategy Simplified podcast

S21E10: Can Panera’s Turnaround Plan Actually Work?

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published 8d ago

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Panera used to dominate fast casual. Now traffic is falling and leadership is scrambling to turn it around.

In this episode, we unpack:

How cost cutting changed salads, sides, and the in-store experience
Why menu complexity and pricing confuse customers
The barbell strategy Panera is betting on for its comeback
What we’d do differently on pricing, testing, and customer research

A practical breakdown of what happens when spreadsheets win over the customer experience.

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Episode Links

Chapters

03:16 Personal Experiences with Panera
06:11 Panera's Business Challenges
08:50 Consumer Trends and Market Forces
11:46 Menu Complexity and Customer Experience
14:48 Cost-Cutting Measures and Their Impact
18:38 The Role of Younger Consumers
21:28 Panera's Turnaround Strategy
24:05 Operational Challenges and Brand Management
27:00 Pricing Strategies and Customer Perception
29:56 Lessons from Other Brands
32:52 Thoughts on Panera's Future
37:13 The Barbell Pricing Strategy
37:55 Consumer Sentiment and Market Positioning

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Chapters

1. S21E10: Can Panera’s Turnaround Plan Actually Work? (00:00:00)

2. [Ad] Canada Now (00:25:13)

3. (Cont.) S21E10: Can Panera’s Turnaround Plan Actually Work? (00:25:51)

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