Panera Proposes Restaurant Subscription Models

"A national bakery-café chain rolled out an unlimited coffee subscription that, for $8.99 a month, provides unlimited coffee with refills as often as every two hours. The offer was promoted heavily over the summer—free through Labor Day and extendable through Halloween if five friends sign up—and company leadership framed it as a move toward recurring, subscription-based revenue to convert casual visitors into committed regulars. The operator said it is testing several subscription concepts beyond coffee, including potential kid-focused lunch plans, positioning dining like an on-demand streaming service." - Rachel Sugar