True Food Kitchen Files Bankruptcy, Closes 12 Sites
True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, closing 12 locations and shrinking to 34 restaurants across 14 states amid $42.1 million in debt.
Oct 5, 2026
True Food Kitchen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, closing 12 locations and shrinking to 34 restaurants across 14 states amid $42.1 million in debt.
Oct 5, 2026
Snooze Eatery names industry veteran Amy Hom as COO, starting Sept. 28, to strengthen hospitality and operations ahead of its next growth phase.
Oct 5, 2026
Restaurants can control operating costs by tracking food, labor, rent, utilities, technology, marketing, and other expenses against sales.
Oct 5, 2026
Opening a second restaurant location requires readiness, clear goals, financial planning, funding, smart strategy, standardized operations, strong teams, and careful launch monitoring for sustainable growth.
Sep 30, 2026
Evaluate restaurant industry performance in Q3 2026 through key trends affecting restaurant sales, traffic, consumer spending, labor, costs, and technology.
Oct 2, 2026
Improve restaurant visibility with local SEO by optimizing Google Business Profile, targeting local keywords, managing reviews, and maintaining accurate online information.
Oct 5, 2026
Understand tip pooling rules, employee eligibility, distribution methods, compliance requirements, recordkeeping practices, and policies restaurant owners need for proper tip management.
Oct 2, 2026
Whit's Frozen Custard hires industry veteran Amos Durbin as COO to guide franchise expansion, drawing on two decades of restaurant leadership experience.
Oct 2, 2026
FAT Brands' $1B acquisition empire fell into bankruptcy and sold for $965M, re-emerging as OHG Brands with 1,700 restaurants.
Oct 1, 2026
CAVA names John Ludeke, former Dr. Squatch Chief Brand Officer, as its new CMO to drive national growth and guest loyalty.
Oct 1, 2026
Unlock Exclusive Access To Webinars, Events, And The Latest News For Free!
Panera Bread has partnered with viral creator Jake Shane to launch the "Pass That Panera" Meal, adding the Caesar Salad Stuffer with Chicken to its Mix & Match value menu for $4.99 per item.

Panera Bread has enlisted one of the internet's most recognisable comedic voices to help spread the word about its growing value proposition. The brand has partnered with viral creator and comedian Jake Shane to launch the "Pass That Panera" Meal- a custom order curated by Shane himself from Panera's Mix & Match Menu. The campaign marks the latest chapter in Panera's push to prove that quality and affordability can comfortably coexist, and Shane's outsized personality and fast-paced humour make him a natural fit for a brand looking to connect with a younger, digitally engaged audience.
Launched earlier this year, Panera's Mix & Match Menu was built around a simple but compelling offer - choose two or more items from a selection of 11 beloved Panera favourites- spanning sandwiches, salads, and soups- for just $4.99 each. Every order also comes with a complimentary side, giving customers the choice of Panera's signature French Baguette, chips, or an apple. The menu currently includes half sandwiches such as the Toasted Italiano, Bacon Turkey Bravo, and Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad; half salads including the Fuji Apple Chicken and Caesar; and cups of soup like Creamy Tomato, Homestyle Chicken Noodle, and Bistro French Onion. Beginning June 17, the new Farmhouse Crunch will join the lineup, replacing the Ranch Parm BLT.
The partnership has a backstory that feels unusually authentic for a brand collaboration. According to Shane, his enthusiasm for Panera's Salad Stuffers was persistent enough that the brand eventually agreed to add one to the Mix & Match Menu. The result is the Caesar Salad Stuffer with Chicken- crisp romaine tossed in Caesar dressing with grilled chicken, shaved parmesan, and croissant croutons, all tucked into a soft Italian Stuffer Roll- now available as a limited-time addition to the value menu. "I wouldn't stop talking about the new Salad Stuffers until Panera agreed to put one on the Mix & Match Menu," Shane said. "They are easily one of my favourite things to eat right now, and I love that the Caesar with Chicken is now available for under five dollars when you mix and match."
Shane's custom meal brings together three Mix & Match Menu items into a single, satisfying combination. The Caesar Salad Stuffer with Chicken anchors the order, joined by the Fuji Apple Chicken Salad- mixed greens and crisp romaine topped with grilled chicken, grape tomatoes, red onions, toasted pecan pieces, feta, apple chips, and sweet white balsamic vinaigrette. Rounding out the trio is the Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup, featuring tender white-meat chicken simmered in a rich, seasoned chicken bone broth with curly egg noodles, sliced carrots, celery, and herbs. It is a well-balanced spread that showcases the range of the Mix & Match Menu while reflecting Shane's own preferences- making it feel like a genuine recommendation rather than a manufactured celebrity endorsement.
The creative campaign built around the partnership leans directly into what made Jake Shane a viral phenomenon in the first place. Rather than placing him in a conventional advertising format, Panera has given Shane the space to guide viewers through the Mix & Match Menu in his own distinctive style- high energy, irreverent, and built for the scroll. The new campaign began airing today, reaching audiences across the platforms where Shane has cultivated his following. For Panera, it represents a deliberate effort to meet younger consumers where they already are, using a creator whose credibility with that audience is organic rather than manufactured.
Mark Shambura, Chief Marketing Officer at Panera Bread, framed the campaign as a direct expression of what the Mix & Match Menu was always intended to deliver. "Panera's Mix & Match Menu was designed to give our guests some of the menu items they love at a price that feels like a win," he said. The "Pass That Panera" Meal is a reflection of how we are leaning into what our guests crave most and delivering it at an incredible value, proving that you never have to compromise on quality to get a great deal. The "Pass That Panera" Meal and the full Mix & Match Menu are available now for dine-in, delivery, Rapid Pick-Up, and drive-thru at participating Panera Bread locations nationwide, with orders placeable through the Panera Bread app or at PaneraBread.com/JakeShane.