(October 1, 2010 - The Packer)—A new produce sourcing model at Panera Bread Co. is cutting wholesalers and foodservice distributors out of the equation, taking days off the time it takes lettuce to get to the St. Louis-based company’s restaurants.
It also is making locally and regionally produced fruits and vegetables possible for the national chain.
Through partnerships directly with shippers in California and Arizona, the 1,400-restaurant chain has specific varieties of lettuce — mainly romaine — grown and sent directly to its subcontracted processing plants, bagged to its specifications and then sent to one of Panera’s 22 fresh dough facilities for daily delivery to its cafes.
Read more on "The Packer": http://thepacker.com/Panera-goes-direct-with-new-procurement-program/Article.aspx?oid=1251775&fid=PACKER-FOODSERVICE&aid=351
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.