A popular sandwich chain known for its fresh-baked bread and Mac and Cheese is gearing up for store and bakery closures as it continues a multi-year streamlining initiative.

Panera Bread , long known for baking its bread fresh daily, is shifting operations from its fresh-dough facilities to a par-baked model.

This model is a system where products arrive half-baked and frozen, then are finished on-site in ovens.

As a result of the transition, Panera is closing all its fresh-dough facilities — prompting hundreds of layoffs.

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The idea is to streamline operations while ensuring products are consistently available to customers as the brand continues grow

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