Panera Bread, a 40-year-old fast-food chain known for its soups and breads, is restructuring its brand as a "fresh-baked" leader and closing several locations resulting in hundreds of job losses. The company is closing its regional Fresh Dough Facilities in Maryland and Ohio, resulting in 188 layoffs. This move is part of its recently unveiled transformation strategy called “Panera RISE” and aims to reclaim industry leadership and drive growth. Panera Bread currently operates in 48 states and Washington, DC, and is working on a turnaround plan to increase its sales from $6 billion in 2024 to over $7 billion by 2028. However, this restructuring comes at the cost of employees.