Overview

• The fall lineup is now available nationwide starting Sept. 24 for dine-in, delivery, Rapid Pick-Up, and drive-thru, with the bundled meal offered exclusively in the Panera app.
• Gilmore Girls actors Jared Padalecki and Matt Czuchry front the campaign, portraying soups whose traits echo Rory’s suitors.
• Black Bean Soup returns to the menu after a seven-year absence, joining Autumn Squash Soup and Hearty Fireside Chili in the featured trio.
• New seasonal items include a Crème Brûlée Latte and a Harvest Medley Chicken Salad, with favorites such as the Pumpkin Cookie and Ciabatta Dippers also back.
• Panera’s CMO highlights cozy, comfort-focused branding while outside analysts frame the nostalgia tie-in as a tactic to reengage cost-conscious diners.