Episode 169

#169: Panera Bread Shares Subscription Insights - its Powerful, Disruptive Approach to Customer Loyalty.

Published on: 16th December, 2021

Panera Bread is a US bakery chain of over 2,000 cafes and it operates one of the restaurant industry's largest loyalty programmes. 

In early 2020, it dramatically changed the loyalty industry with a disruptive subscription proposition, offering unlimited coffee for just $8.99 a month.

Guided by a clear insight on customer needs from it's member base, it has earned respect around the world for creating a whole new business model, leveraging the power of subscription psychology to delight its members.  

In this fascinating discussion, I'm joined by Meenakshi Nagarajan, SVP, Recurring Revenue and Loyalty at Panera Bread, who shares some of the challenges that they overcame to create this incredible success story, as well as its latest strategy - partnering with other like-minded brands to drive further disruption and ultimately, extraordinary growth from this paid loyalty proposition. 



1) Meenakshi Nagarajan, SVP, Recurring Revenue and Loyalty at Panera Bread

2) Panera Bread Subscription Loyalty - Press Release - February 2020

3) Panera Bread


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About the Podcast

Let's Talk Loyalty
“Let’s Talk Loyalty” is an industry podcast for loyalty marketing professionals.

If you work in loyalty marketing, join us every week to learn the latest ideas and marketing insights from loyalty specialists around the world.

Check out our website on: http://www.letstalkloyalty.com/

About your host

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Paula Thomas

Paula Thomas is the Founder and CEO of Let’s Talk Loyalty and Loyalty TV

Paula Thomas is an award-winning podcaster who founded the “Let’s Talk Loyalty” podcast and business in 2019, and Loyalty TV in 2023.

She has over twenty-five years blue-chip marketing experience, including almost a decade leading consumer loyalty programmes in multiple sectors including telecommunications, the energy sector, banking and airline loyalty programmes.

She is from Ireland and lives in Dubai.

Paula is a former judge for the “International Loyalty Awards”, and the author of the book “Driving Loyalty in Convenience Retail”.

She holds an Executive MBA from Smurfit Business College, one of Ireland’s top universities, and is a “Certified Loyalty Marketing Professional”.