About a decade ago, Panera was the bigger player in the fast-casual sphere.
But in the years since then, Chipotle sales have skyrocketed while Panera’s have remained somewhat stagnant.
That puts Chipotle among the ranks of major restaurant industry players like McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-A.
Photo: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock. Design: Eat This, Not That!
Meanwhile, Panera hasn’t been able to break into the top 10 in recent years.
So why are Chipotle’s sales soaring while Panera struggles to keep up?
PerRestaurant Business Magazine, there are several factors that may have been at play.
JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock
The digital segment now accounts for 37% of Chipotle’s business.
Chipotle opened about 150 new restaurants in 2020 while Panera pulled back on expansion, according to the magazine.
