Case Study – Panera Bread
Questions:
1. What does a SWOT Analysis reveal about the overall attractiveness of its situation?
2. Which rival chains appear to be Panera’s closest rivals?
3. What strategic issues and problems does Panera’s management need to address?
4. How do they look from a financial point of view?
1. What does a SWOT Analysis reveal about the overall attractiveness of its situation?
A SWOT Analysis is a simple but powerful tool for sizing up a company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and the external threats to its future well-being. Panera Bread is considered still to be a new fast-growing company that is still expanding and being introduced to people. They are known nationwide so it’s important that their name is known coast-to-coast instead of some companies that just stay regional, for example Sheetz or WaWa. Panera Bread have received many awards and acknowledgements through the past years however they still continue to be the leader in the bakery “fast-casual” segment of the restaurant industry. They continue to lead because they have rose past the fast food market offering high-quality ingredients and premium products at an affordable price. They do not use artificial ingredients, preservatives, or fillers like fast food chains and everything is made fresh daily. Their niche is in artisan foods which is their core competencies. Fresh, appealing menus is what attracts customers then makes them repeat customers. They provide a warm ambience in their locations to connect deeper with their customers making them feel comfortable and warm. They offer free Wi-Fi enabling them as a “chill” spot for customers.
However in contrast, since Panera Bread offers premium dining products the prices appear to be on the higher end to customers to be considered fast food. Even through research, Panera Bread hasn’t been able to increase the frequency of which customers dine at their restaurant. They’ve tried by using a loyalty card and their Concept Essence plan but it still hasn’t been quite successful yet. Even though Panera has now known nationwide, they still are new to the game. Some people still may prefer Starbucks because they just haven’t tried Panera yet. Panera has a less invasive marketing strategy. They want people to ease into it rather than be “in your face”. Also, in order to become a franchisee of Panera Bread, you must meet very strict qualifications to be able to qualify for example, having a net worth of $7.5 billion. Even though they still seem to be a growing strong company, they still have opportunities they can grasp onto. It seems like Panera is still trying to figure out what their customers like. They change their menu often by taking selections off, on, then reintroducing them again. They might consider some stability to their menu. Personally, I’m a frequent customer of Panera and certain things I’ve tried in the past wasn’t on the menu the next time I was there. Also, considering that a lot of customers are turned away by Panera’s higher prices, should they consider a “value-menu” type of choice. With the understanding that lower the price, lower the quality. The frugal customers aren’t as concerned with quality as they are with price. Something less artistic as their café and signature sandwiches to appeal to the money-conscious. Panera has done a great job expanding nationwide. They have proved to be successful coast to coast so why not expand to international markets. Having only a few locations in Canada isn’t enough. They could tap into Europe, Asia, and Australia. Instead of Panera Bread being a nationwide recognized name, it can be globally recognized. As with any restaurant, it is easy to mimic. Rivals can easily imitate the atmosphere, menu, ingredients and offer a lower price. The food industry always has companies coming in creating competition. Next year an entire new company could outdo Panera Bread. Also finding space to lease or