Panera Bread to Open 2,000th Bakery-Cafe in Elyria, Ohio -- Wednesday, March 23, 2016 at 6:30AM

CLEVELAND, OH--(Marketwired - March 22, 2016) - Covelli Enterprises, the largest franchisee of Panera, LLC, is pleased to announce the opening of the 2,000^th Panera Bread bakery-cafe in the nation. The grand opening of this drive-thru bakery-cafe in Elyria, Ohio will take place on Wednesday, March 23^rd at 6:30AM. The new location features a drive-thru and is conveniently located across from Chestnut Commons at the corner of Chestnut Ridge Road and Route 57. 

The grand opening celebration will include two days of special offers. The first 200 customers on March 23 will receive a free You Pick Two® for a Year* certificate and, with any purchase, the first 2,000 customers will receive a free travel mug with two weeks of free coffee.* In addition, former OSU star, Ezekiel Elliot will be signing autographs from 6PM-8PM on March 23^rd. (Excludes memorabilia)

 "We are honored to open the 2,000^th Panera Bread Bakery-Cafe in the nation. It is a true testament to the strength of the brand, the loyalty of our customers, and the hard work of our employees," said Sam Covelli, Owner/Operator of Covelli Enterprises. "Cleveland has been an integral part of our company's growth for over 20 years. I am thrilled that the 2,000th bakery-cafe is opening in our largest market and in Northeast Ohio, where Covelli Enterprises was founded over 50 years ago," Covelli concluded.

"The opening of our 2,000^th bakery-cafe is a proud milestone for the Panera Family. Whenever we open a new location, I'm reminded that the strength of Panera has been built one guest and one bakery-cafe at a time," said founder and CEO Ron Shaich. "We are grateful to have strong partners, like Covelli Enterprises, who continue to deliver an industry-leading guest experience and are helping to propel our growth."

In celebration of the 2,000^th location, $2,000 will be donated by Covelli Enterprises to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1079 located in Elyria, Ohio.

About Covelli Enterprises

Covelli Enterprises is the largest franchisee of Panera Bread, LLC, with more than 275 bakery-cafés in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Florida and Toronto, Canada. In 2015, Covelli Enterprises donated more than $26 million to non-profit organizations. www.covelli.com

About Panera Bread

Thirty years ago, at a time when quick service meant low quality, Panera set out to challenge this expectation. We believed that food that was good and that you could feel good about, served in a warm and welcoming environment by people who cared, could bring out the best in all of us. To us, that is food as it should be and that is why we exist.

So we began with a simple commitment: to bake fresh bread every day in our bakery-cafes. No short cuts, just bakers with simple ingredients and hot ovens. Each night, any unsold bread and baked goods were shared with neighbors in need.

These traditions carry on today, as we have continued to find ways to be an ally to our guests. That means crafting a menu of soups, salads and sandwiches that we are proud to feed our families. Like poultry and pork raised without antibiotics on our salads and sandwiches. A commitment to transparency and options that empower our guests to eat the way they want. Seasonal flavors and whole grains. And commitment to removing artificial additives (flavors, sweeteners, preservatives and colors from artificial sources) from the food in our bakery-cafes. Why? Because we think that simpler is better and we believe in serving food as it should be. Because when you don't have to compromise to eat well, all that is left is the joy of eating.

We're also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we now offer new ways to enjoy your Panera favorites -- like mobile ordering and Rapid Pick-Up for to-go orders -- all designed to make things easier for our guests. As of March 23, 2016, there will be 2,000 bakery-cafes in 46 states and in Ontario, Canada operating under the Panera Bread®, Saint Louis Bread Co.® or Paradise Bakery & Cafe® names. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find us on Twitter (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) or Instagram (@panerabread).

*Certain restrictions apply. While supplies last.