It was recently announced that Panera Bread plans to reassign the baking staff at most of its roughly 1,800 locations from night to day shifts so the stores smell like a bakery when customers come in. Customers will be able to watch baked goods being made, chat with bakers and grab warm pastry samples.
The day-baking idea originated in Panera's "test bakery," a functioning store that opened 12 months ago in New Haven, Conn. A friendly landlord allowed Panera to install a small "show oven" that doesn't have a hood, so it vents back into the store. It intensifies smell and lets customers see what is baking and they are loving it!
