Salad & Sandwich Maker

Keke Palmer teases A new 'relationship' that's 'refreshing loyal' Keke Palmer teases A new 'relationship' that's 'refreshingly loyal' as chatter around her love life continues to heat up. Published on August 19, 2026 Keke Palmer has a new relationship-and it sounds like she's pretty happy with how things are going. The actress, singer, and all-around internet fav is starring in Panera's new "Refreshingly Loyal" campaign, where she puts her own playful spin on the never-ending conversation about her love life. In the campaign, Keke teases what sounds like a very exciting new romance, using some of her signature humor to talk about finding something that's actually loyal, rewarding, and, most importantly, gives back. But before you start wondering who Keke is dating, there's a catch: The "relationship" she's talking about isn't with a person at all. "It's with MyPanera" Palmer's campaign celebrates the launch of Panera's revamped MyPanera rewards program, which officially rolled out nationwide Wednesday. The new points-based system is designed to give members more flexibility when earning and redeeming rewards, with Palmer turning the concept of loyalty into the punchline. And honestly, if your relationship is giving you free food, that's worth talking about. Under the new MyPanera program, members earn 10 points for every $1 spent and can put those points toward menu items of their choice. Rewards start at 250 points for goodies like a free bagel or mini bakery treat and go up to 2,000 points for a full entrée. There's also a little something extra waiting for members who want to celebrate the revamped program. From Aug. 19 through Sept. 1, new and existing MyPanera members can score 500 bonus points with their first purchase under the new program, enough to redeem a free Energy Refresher or Fresca. And if you're feeling adventurous, MyPanera members can also get exclusive access to Panera's new Tropical Mango Pineapple Energy Refresher, which launches Wednesday and is available exclusively through the Panera app for a limited time. The refreshed loyalty program also includes three tiers: the free MyPanera membership, MyPanera+ for guests who spend $300 in a calendar year and unlock additional perks, and MyPanera+ Sip Club, which includes MyPanera+ benefits along with up to 30 select beverages per month and other perks. So, while Palmer may have the internet wondering about the latest addition to her dating life, it turns out her newest "relationship" is one that comes with rewards. And considering all of the perks involved, Wiz Nation can't really blame her.

Panera Bread. PANERA UNVEILS ALL NEW POINTS-BASED MYPANERA REWARDS PROGRAM, DELIVERING A REFRESHINGLY LOYAL EXPERIENCE WITH MORE REWARDS, CHOICE AND VALUE Alongside its new "Refreshingly Loyal" campaign starring Keke Palmer, Panera is celebrating the MyPanera refresh by rewarding new and existing members with 500 bonus points with purchase - enough to score a FREE Energy Refresher. Boston, MA - August 19, 2026 - Today, Panera Bread unveiled the evolution of its MyPanera(R) rewards program, a refreshingly loyal experience designed to give members more rewards, more choice and more value. Launching nationwide today, MyPanera now offers a points-based rewards system that makes earning and redeeming rewards for free Panera(R) items faster and easier than ever. As Panera continues to execute against its RISE transformation strategy, the new MyPanera program is designed to elevate the loyalty experience for more than 70 million MyPanera members with more ways to earn, choose and enjoy the Panera favorites they love. Refreshingly Loyal with Keke Palmer To mark the launch of the new MyPanera program, Panera is partnering with Keke Palmer for Refreshingly Loyal, a campaign that sees Palmer doing what she does best: taking the internet's favorite talking points and turning them into the punchline. With her trademark humor, she playfully reframes the conversation around "loyalty," showing just how refreshing, and rewarding, it feels (and tastes) when you find something that actually gives back - before revealing that the loyal "relationship" she's talking about is actually MyPanera. 500 Bonus Points for New & Existing MyPanera Members To celebrate the refreshed loyalty experience, MyPanera is rewarding its members with 500 bonus points for their first purchase in the new program from August 19 through September 1, a reward worth a free Energy Refresher or Fresca*. For a limited time, MyPanera members will also have exclusive access to the new Tropical Mango Pineapple Energy Refresher, launching today alongside the new program and available only through the Panera app. "From everyday favorites to exclusive offers, we have reimagined MyPanera to deliver more value with every purchase, and the new MyPanera is built to give our guests what they have told us they want most - more transparency, better rewards and more choice," said Joshua Fine, Chief Digital Officer, Panera Bread. "Now, MyPanera is truly living into its name by giving our guests rewards that are flexible, tailored and highly personalized to their preferences." An All New Loyalty Program The new MyPanera program features a simple, flexible points-based system where guests earn 10 points for every $1 spent and redeem points for menu items they choose. Members can seamlessly navigate their rewards and choose how to allocate their points towards their favorite menu items - from 250 points for a free bagel or mini bakery treat, all the way up to 2000 points for a full whole entree of their choice. All previously earned loyalty rewards will carry over into the new experience as members begin earning points each time they order. The upgraded program introduces three tiers: * MyPanera, free to sign up and join to earn points in the Panera app, * MyPanera+(TM) for guests who spend $300 in a calendar year and unlock enhanced perks, like a free birthday You Pick Two(R) and bonus points on delivery orders. * MyPanera+ Sip Club subscription, which includes all MyPanera+ benefits plus up to 30 select beverages per month, exclusive Sip Club Saturday offers on select Saturdays, and more. To join MyPanera today, and for more information, visit www.PaneraBread.com/MyPanera. *Purchase required. Offer valid for MyPanera members only. From August 19 - September 1, 2026, receive 500 points with a verified food or beverage purchase (after application of any reward/discount/Sip Club beverage redemption and excluding taxes/fees/charges) from a participating US cafe. The 500 offer points will be added to your MyPanera account within 24 hours of qualifying purchase order fulfillment. The 500 offer points will expire as set forth in the MyPanera terms. Limit one use per MyPanera member. Limit one 500-point offer per MyPanera member. Members who join MyPanera during this offer period, or who enroll in MyPanera+ Sip Club at the time of first joining MyPanera during this offer period, are not eligible to receive this additional 500 points offer, and will instead receive the applicable 500-point new member welcome offer. Points will not be awarded for catering orders, orders placed on third party sites, purchases of gift cards, purchases of Panera at Home grocery products, Panera Shop purchases, or Sip Club subscription fees. Not valid with any other coupon or offer. Offer may expire or be terminated by Panera without notice due to error, fraud, computer or typographical error, electronic or technical malfunctions, or other unusual or unexpected circumstances. This one-time offer is exclusive to you and your MyPanera account and cannot be claimed, reproduced, transferred, or used by anyone else. Other restrictions may apply. Visit https://www.panerabread.com/en-Panera Bread/company-information/terms-of-use.html#themypaneraprogram for complete MyPanera terms. ** Contains caffeine. Energy Refreshers are not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant or nursing women. "Month" refers to each monthly billing cycle or, for annual subscribers, rolling 30-day periods from subscription start date. About Panera Bread. Its first bakery-cafe opened in 1987, founded with a secret sourdough starter and the belief that the best part of bread is sharing it. That vision led to the invention of the Fast Casual category with Panera at the forefront, serving as America's kitchen table centered around its delicious menu of chef-curated recipes that are crafted with care by its team members. Panera Bread make food that Panera Bread is proud to serve its own families, from crave-worthy soups, salads and sandwiches to mac & cheese and sweets. Each recipe is filled with ingredients Panera Bread feel good about and none of those Panera Bread don't because Panera Bread is committed to serving its guests food that feels good in the moment and long after. While its company is now about 2,200 bakery-cafes strong, its values and belief in the lasting power of a great meal remain as strong as ever. Panera Bread spend each day elevating everyday meals into moments of comfort, connection and joy. Nothing beats breaking bread together. As of July 28, 2026, there were 2,251 bakery-cafes, company and franchise, in 48 states and Washington D.C., and in Ontario, Canada, operating under the Panera Bread(R) or Saint Louis Bread Co.(R) names. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant companies in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread(R), Caribou Coffee(R) and Einstein Bros.(R) Bagels. For more information, visit panerabread.com or find Panera Bread on X (@panerabread), Facebook (facebook.com/panerabread) Instagram (@panerabread) or TikTok (@panerabread).

Panera Bread rolls out new-and-improved loyalty program. The fast-casual chain is shifting to a points-based program with tiers. The goal is to offer more value, choice, and transparency. Lisa Jennings, Executive Editor, Restaurant Business August 19, 2026 Panera Bread's new-and-improved loyalty program is scheduled to roll out on Wednesday, a move designed to offer more value, choice, and transparency. Joshua Fine, the Boston-based chain's chief digital officer, said the new tiered MyPanera plan is a response to customer feedback. Previously, Panera's loyalty program was based on "surprise and delight" rewards that were harder for guests to understand. Under the previous program, he said, "You were never really sure what you were going to get in terms of the reward that we were offering and when." The new program, however, is points based, and guests can more clearly see their rewards and how that can translate to discounts. "It's going to be even easier to earn rewards, faster to get them, and then you're going to have a great deal of choice in terms of how you redeem those rewards, which overall provides a great deal of flexibility within the program," Fine said. The loyalty revamp is part of the ongoing Panera RISE transformation plan to turnaround flagging sales, which has included menu upgrades and operational shifts. The new loyalty program was tested earlier this year, and Fine said the changes have resonated with guests, bringing in new and lapsed diners to the program, which has about 70 million members. The new program has three tiers: The base MyPanera tier is free. Guests earn 10 points for every $1 spent, and guests can use those rewards for a selection of food and beverage options. For example, 250 points might get guests a free bagel, extra side or baked treat, and 2,000 points would earn an entrée or whole sandwich. For existing members, the transition to the new program is automatic. If ordering through the Panera app, guests will automatically accrue their rewards points. If ordering in stores at the register, guests will be asked if they want to enter their phone number or ID to earn their points. From Aug. 19 through Sept. 1, Panera is giving members a 500-point bonus on their first transaction in the new program, which is worth a free Energy Refresher or Fresca. Members will also have exclusive access to a new drink: a Tropical Mango Pineapple Refresher, which is launching Wednesday and only available on the Panera app. If guests spend more than $300 in a calendar year, that gets them to the second tier, called MyPanera+. This tier offers special benefits, like a free birthday You Pick Two, and bonus points on delivery orders. Instead of earning 10 points per dollar, in this tier guests earn 12 points per dollar for delivery orders. The highest tier is called MyPanera+Sip Club. This tier includes the Sip Club subscription program, which, as Panera announced earlier this year, is no longer unlimited. For $14.99 per month, guests can get up to 30 self-service drinks per month, in addition to the loyalty perks. For a limited time, Panera is offering the subscription for $5 to get three months of benefits. Members must download the app. Actress, podcaster and singer Keke Palmer has partnered with Panera to draw attention to the Refreshingly Loyal campaign to market the new loyalty program. Known for movies like "Akeelah and the Bee" and shows like "True Jackson," Palmer in social media posts talks about how rewarding "loyalty" can be, before revealing that the relationship she's talking about is MyPanera. Now considered table stakes for restaurant chains, loyalty programs have increasingly shifted to simpler points-based programs that offer more value. Fine said Panera believes it has found the right format. "We saw new member joining and new members transacting at a high rate within the program," he said. "That, again, confirmed that this was going to be the right formula for us moving forward." Executive Editor, Restaurant Business Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Her experience includes other industry publications as well as the daily newspaper The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., where she was Food Editor. Her work has been cited in the Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, FoodBeast, The Huffington Post, Time.com and more. Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters