Panera Bread to Shutter Greensboro, North Carolina, Baking Facility

March 31, 2025

As company shifts to an “on-demand baking model,” it has announced four separate bakery closures throughout its operations network.

Andy Hanacek

Panera Bread will shut down its fresh-dough plant in Greensboro, N.C., according to local news reports citing a WARN notice filed with the state of North Carolina. The facility is the fourth of its type to close at Panera, as the restaurant operator switches its baking and delivery process.

Panera said that the 80 employees at Greensboro will be laid off, but the company will support them by offering separation pay and other health insurance and outplacement assistance.

The “on-demand baking model” will see third-party bakeries produce the dough, which will then be par-baked, frozen and shipped to Panera’s restaurants, where it can be stored and baked as needed.

Panera has announced the closure of three other baking facilities in its network — Ontario, Calif., Stockton, Calif., and Lenexa, Kan. — as part of this operational transition. The company told the news outlet that the new approach will “simplify operations, unlock innovation and explore new breads and unique varieties.”

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.