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Panera Bread's Unlimited Sips Club is winning praise from its members for its great perks. Despite the allure of free refills, Starbucks fans are sticking with their preferred brand.
Typically, joining Panera's club costs $14.99 a month, but a new promotion offers free memberships.
Panera Ushers in the "More is More" Era
In a recent announcement to Food & Wine, Panera Bread declared it is entering its "More is More" era. To celebrate, the company plans to offer diners a variety of prizes throughout the summer. Additionally, there will be significant upgrades to its Unlimited Sip Club.
According to Panera, these enhancements can save members as much as $100 a month, making the subscription pay for itself after just four cups. The monthly fee for the subscription is $14.99 and now includes access to over 20 different drinks, including coffee, tea, and lemonade.
Panera offers a special promotion to attract new subscribers: three months free for those who sign up by June 30.
However, these benefits are only available to members of MyPanera, so interested customers should register for that program first.
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Panera vs. Starbucks: Comparing Customer Loyalties
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A Panera Sip Club member recently shared her satisfaction with the program on Facebook. She admitted to being late in discovering the benefits but was thrilled to realize what a great deal it offers.
The club has proven particularly convenient for her. She spends much time at the hospital's two Panera locations, one right outside the emergency room.
She also highlighted the promotional offer of three months free, which allows her to enjoy her favorite iced and hot teas. A friend also joined recently and is excited about the no-cost membership period.
However, the conversation turned competitive when another individual commented that they were pleased to see her shift from Starbucks and called it a "ripoff."
In response, she affirmed her loyalty to Starbucks, stating she would continue to visit for her morning lattes.
Meanwhile, According to The U.S. Sun, Panera Bread recently faced criticism from customers after it removed several popular items in what has been described as the largest menu revamp in the company's history.
The shakeup saw 48 items discontinued, including turkey chili, blueberry bagels, napa almond chicken salad sandwiches, roasted turkey and avocado BLT, and lemon drop cookies.
The company explained that these changes begin a "new era." However, customers expressed their disappointment vividly on social media platforms like X, formerly known as Twitter.
Panera Bread has rolled out several affordable dining options, like the "You Pick Two" menu and Family Feast meals, all under $40. They're also engaging fans with a social media giveaway-50 participants will win a Panera sweatshirt and a $20 e-gift card.
Earlier this year, Panera refreshed its menu to enhance core items like soups and sandwiches, focusing on customer feedback to offer more value and larger portions.
One user lamented the new direction, stating that removing all the good items from the menu could be a lesson in how to lose customers.
Another expressed frustration over not being able to get a chocolate chip bagel anymore.
Meanwhile, Starbucks fans are also concerned about the new drinks expected to be introduced to the menu soon.
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