What Panera Bread's loyalty program offers

Panera Bread began in 1987 as the St. Louis Bread Company. It currently operates over 2,000 locations within the U.S. and Canada.

The brand launched its loyalty program, called MyPanera, in 2010 and gave it a refresh in 2022.

It is not points-based but rather rewards are doled out based on purchase and visits as the brand aims to "reward you with more surprises based on what you love," according to a press release on the program's refresh.

Every few visits the brand rewards members with surprises based on what they like.

How MyPanera works

The choice-based rewards program lets members select their reward from multiple options based on their personal preferences.

Those options are wide ranging — from bakery/café items to exclusive previews and tastings as well as cooking and baking tips. The list also includes invitations to special events, ideas for entertaining and recipe books.

Every reward has a 60-day expiration window.

Member rewards, exclusives

Panera Bread's free loyalty rewards program, which has nearly 48 million members, offers a free pastry on signup a free pastry or sweet. The newly signed up member also gets free delivery for the first 30 days of membership.

In addition to the personalized rewards, members are gifted with the following:

• Annual birthday reward
• Early access to new menu items
• Invitations to members-only challenges.