Category Archives: Member Spotlight

Last week I had the opportunity to  interview with Beth Woldt (General Manager at Panera Bread on Hamilton Blvd).  While I was talking to Beth, we got on to the topic of food allergies. Food allergies have impacted my life and diet heavily and so I was delighted to discover that Panera has non-dairy alternatives for people like me who are allergic to milk. The clerks at Panera are very good at helping out those of us that are non-dairy consumers, and the non-dairy alternatives and options don’t take away from the quality of food either!

My interview also enlightened me to all the changes happening at  Panera Bread. This summer, Panera’s switching it up with a seasonal menu change! They’ve got several returning favorites this year. First is the Strawberry Poppyseed & Chicken Salad (chicken, romaine, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, Mandarin oranges, pecans & poppyseed dressing – yum!). The mozzarella tomato salad is another returning salad but with a twist (now it’s made of tomatoes, cucumbers, basil & onion marinated in balsamic vinaigrette, then it’s mixed with the mozzarella, field greens, romaine, croutons and olive oil). Panera’s new bagel this summer is the sweet onion and poppy seed bagel, and they’ve also switched up their seasonal fruit mix! Also being brought in to beat the heat, Panera reintroduces their specialty frozen lemonade and their new frozen strawberry lemonade.

Panera Bread has lots of unique quirks that I was unaware of. I learned how much preparation goes into making their food; Panera bakes their own bread fresh everyday and cuts fresh fruit for their fruit cups and salads every morning. Also: did you know that Panera Bread offers a build-a-meal online that calculates all the nutrition information you could ask for – now you can plan exactly what’s you’re eating at Panera! Very convenient if you’re trying to watch what you eat.

Everyone at Panera Bread is excited to be welcoming in summer with their menu changes and in getting involved with the community. Panera participates in a number of activities that give back to the Siouxland area, but most notable of these is Panera’s Operation Dough-Nation. Every day Panera gives unsold bread to local charities like Gospel Mission and the Siouxland Food Bank, who then distribute the bread to those in need. They also help out a number of local charities through donations of cash, food and gift cards.

In short, I was very pleased to learn about the exciting benefits Panera Bread has to offer me as an individual and all of us as a community! Stay cool, Panera Bread & company!

Kaitlin Tow
Social Media Intern