Panera Bread Celebrates 10^th Anniversary of Pink Ribbon Bagel®

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month this October, Panera Bread in Marlborough and in other locations across the country will donate a portion of the earnings from its "Pink Ribbon Bagel" sales to various breast cancer organizations. In the Boston area, proceeds will go to the Center for Young Women’s Health at Children’s Hospital Boston, South Shore Hospital, and the UMass Memorial Comprehensive Breast Center. At least 10 cents will be donated for each bagel purchased.

Boston, MA, September 22, 2011 – Panera Bread is celebrating 10 years of fighting breast cancer by baking bagels. This October, the signature Pink Ribbon Bagel® will be sold at all of Panera Bread’s approximately 1,500 bakery-cafes, with a portion of the proceeds from each bagel sold going to a variety of breast cancer causes throughout the country.  A staple each October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, donations from the sale of the Pink Ribbon Bagel have now raised more than $1 million for breast cancer charities and Panera Bread and its franchisees hope to make 2011 the largest year for donations ever.

“The Pink Ribbon Bagel is a customer favorite, in part because it’s a delicious way to start the day and because each bagel sold helps bring us one step closer to finding a cure for breast cancer,” said Mitch Roberts, operating partner of PR Restaurants, LLC, a Panera Bread franchisee. “Panera Bread is proud to work with the communities we serve to help raise money for such a worthy cause.  In our market, we are fortunate to be able to support a number of valuable institutions with the funds we raise, ensuring that people across the Northeast benefit from this effort.”

In Greater Boston, proceeds from Pink Ribbon Bagel will benefit the Center for Young Women’s Health at Children’s Hospital Boston, South Shore Hospital, and the UMass Memorial Comprehensive Breast Center.  Please check with your local bakery-café for information on specific donation partners.

Shaped in the form of the iconic pink ribbon, Pink Ribbon Bagels feature cherry chips, dried cherries and cranberries, vanilla, honey, and brown sugar, and are baked fresh early each morning by Panera’s bakers at each bakery-cafe. For each bagel sold, at least 10 cents will be donated to support breast cancer awareness and research. Nearly two million Pink Ribbon Bagels were sold in 2010, raising more than $75,000 for charity.

The Pink Ribbon Bagel concept began in 2001 when Sue Stees, co-owner of 18 Panera Bread franchises and a breast cancer survivor, began searching for ways to help other women fighting the same disease. Her search led her to the kitchen where she developed the Pink Ribbon Bagel. She sold 27,000 bagels in her bakery-cafes that first year and was awarded the “You Can Make a Difference Award” from Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To date, more than seven million Pink Ribbon Bagels have been sold.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this simple bagel concept – created in my Tulsa bakery-cafe – would grow to where it is today, educating the community on breast cancer and inspiring those who are fighting this disease,” Stees said. “I’m extremely blessed to have survived to see the Pink Ribbon Bagel make such an impact over the last 10 years.”

About Panera Bread

Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,493 bakery-cafes as of June 28, 2011 under the

Panera Bread®, Saint Louis Bread Co.®, and Paradise Bakery & Café® names. We feature high quality, reasonably priced food in a warm, inviting, and comfortable environment. With our identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh-baked, artisan bread, we are committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. Nearly all of our bakery-cafes have a menu highlighted by antibiotic-free chicken, whole grain bread, and select organic and all natural ingredients, with zero grams of artificial trans fat per serving, which provide flavorful, wholesome offerings. Our menu includes a wide variety of year-round favorites complemented by new items introduced seasonally with the goal of creating new standards in everyday food choices. In neighborhoods across the United States and in Ontario, Canada, our customers enjoy our warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor, and free internet access. Our bakery-cafes routinely donate bread and baked goods to community organizations in need. Additional information is available on our website, http://www.panerabread.com.

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