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Panera Scores With Pay-What- You-Want Branch

Experiment shows 'people are fundamentally good': founder

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted May 17, 2011 5:37 PM CDT

(Newser) – Last May, Panera Bread turned a St. Louis-area cafe into a nonprofit branch, where customers pay what they choose. A year later, the experiment is working out fine, the AP reports: Some 60% of customers pay the suggested price, while 20% pay more and 20% pay less. It’s the biggest-ever community kitchen—a trend in which businesses function in part as charities.

Two more Panera branches have already sprung up, and many more are planned. Operating at 80% of retail, the Missouri branch pulls in a few thousand dollars a month beyond costs. The extra money goes to job and “life skills” training for at-risk youths, says Panera's founder. “The lesson here is most people are fundamentally good,” he says. “People step up and they do the right thing."

Employee Kevin Wilson works behind the counter at the restaurant Tuesday, May 18, 2010, in Clayton, Mo.
Employee Kevin Wilson works behind the counter at the restaurant Tuesday, May 18, 2010, in Clayton, Mo.   (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
In this file photo taken May 18, 2010, cash paid for food sits in a box at the front counter inside the restaurant, in Clayton, Mo.
In this file photo taken May 18, 2010, cash paid for food sits in a box at the front counter inside the restaurant, in Clayton, Mo.   (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
In this file photo taken May 18, 2010, loaves of bread sits on a table at a Panera Bread Co. nonprofit restaurant in Clayton, Mo.
In this file photo taken May 18, 2010, loaves of bread sits on a table at a Panera Bread Co. nonprofit restaurant in Clayton, Mo.   (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
Sharkbite44
May 18, 2011 5:13 PM CDT
 time to get 100 sandwiches for 1 cent each :D
Disillusioned
May 17, 2011 8:20 PM CDT
It is called sharing and caring something a few have forgotten if the best quality of a human in their pursuit of gold Left to their own devices many and I dare so most people are honest but that doesn't make good copy thus the headlines scream of the evil humans do and the good is over shadowed by the minority as "reporters" seek fame and glory in pursuit of a lead story Panera is proving they are both a good and viable business strategy they are proving the human animal can be both honest and kind
littlewolfplaying
May 17, 2011 7:01 PM CDT
 what is so scary ? 3% find this story scary  ? 3% find this story scary 

 
restaurant • charity • donation • nonprofit • cafes • Panera Bread

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