Press Release – February 06, 2025 – ST. LOUIS – Panera Bread, a leader and pioneer in the fast casual restaurant industry, today announced that Santhosh Kumar has joined the company as Chief Information Officer, effective February 12, reporting to Interim CEO Paul Carbone. Kumar will lead the company’s technology organization, responsible for the development, integration and deployment of technology across more than 2,200 Panera cafes. In his new role, Kumar will partner with the Panera Bread leadership team and franchisees to drive an exceptional team member and guest experience.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Santhosh to the Panera Bread leadership team”Post this

“I’m thrilled to welcome Santhosh to the Panera Bread leadership team,” said Paul Carbone, Interim CEO, Panera Bread. “As the technology landscape continues to evolve, Santhosh brings the right combination of strategic technology expertise, industry experience and proven ability to build high-performing teams that will help drive Panera’s continued success.”

A seasoned IT executive and expert in digital transformation, Kumar brings deep expertise in core application modernization, retail POS and in-store systems and electronic payment technologies. Kumar joins Panera from United Natural Food, Inc. (UNFI), where he led a multi-year warehouse transformation program and cloud modernization and migrations resulting in significant operational efficiencies and cost savings for the company. Prior to UNFI, Kumar spent nearly 21 years at Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., including as SVP of IT, leading the IT team globally through several retail and digital innovation initiatives. This included the rollout of new point-of-sale and back-office systems across all USA restaurants; as well as the development and launch of Dunkin’s loyalty program.

“Panera Bread has a strong history as a technology leader in the restaurant industry,” said Santhosh Kumar, Chief Information Officer, Panera Bread. “I am proud to join an already outstanding team and to continue Panera’s relentless focus on creating the most seamless and efficient experience for our team members and guests.”

About Panera Bread
Our first cafe opened in 1987, founded with a secret sourdough starter and the belief that the best part of bread is sharing it. That vision led to the invention of the Fast Casual category with Panera at the forefront, serving as America’s kitchen table centered around our delicious menu of chef-curated recipes that are crafted with care by our team members. We make food that we are proud to serve our own families, from crave-worthy soups, salads and sandwiches to mac & cheese and sweets. Each recipe is filled with ingredients we feel good about and none of those we don’t because we are committed to serving our guests food that feels good in the moment and long after. While our company is now more than 2,200 cafes strong, our values and belief in the lasting power of a great meal remain as strong as ever. We spend each day filling bellies, building empowered teams and inspiring communities. Nothing beats breaking bread together.

As of December 31, 2024 there were 2,216 cafes, company and franchise, in 48 states and Washington D.C., and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread^® or Saint Louis Bread Co.^® names. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant companies in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread^®, Caribou Coffee^® and Einstein Bros.^® Bagels. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find us on X (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) Instagram (@panerabread) or TikTok (@panerabread).

Contacts

Media
Panera PR
[email protected]

Source : Businesswire

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