QSR July 2023

SUSTAINABILITY

C ange Po er Since its founding, Panera has pushed itself to take care of the environment—with one big climate goal after the other. / BY BEN COLEY

PANERA CHAIRMAN NIREN CHAUDHARY doesn’t mince words when it comes to sustainability. The restaurant industry veteran calls climate change one of the biggest challenges humanity faces, and he’s far from the only one. Earlier this year, United Nations scientists said the planet is warming at such a rapid rate that it may cause irreversible harm. The group referred to it as a “final warning.” Meanwhile, greenhouse gases are at an all-time high, ocean levels are rising, deserts are expanding, and species face extinction. If food isn’t at the center, it’s close. U.S. restaurants accumu late 22 billion to 33 billion pounds of waste each year, according to FoodPrint, a report aiming to increase awareness of key environ mental issues. Roughly 4 to 10 percent of purchased food is wasted before reaching customers. Food systems contribute almost 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. But that’s far from the worst part of it. “We are already late to the party,” Chaudhary says. “It’s an imperative that anybody in the food retail industry must do more to make a contribution.” Chaudhary doesn’t throw out that call to action lightly. The warning comes from a place of authority and leadership. He’s been with Panera since May 2019, but the fast casual’s penchant for

sustainability dates back to its origin when founder Ron Shaich rec ognized customers sought more than processed meals. He had the vision of serving food that was both craveable and healthy, without artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives. In 2022, Worth Magazine listed Panera as one of its Top 10 Most Sustainable Companies. The chain was also on Inc. Maga zine’s 20 Most Purpose-Driven Brands of 2022, alongside the likes of Google, Clorox, Patagonia, and REI. Panera was the only res taurant on the list. The reason why Chaudhary is inspired to work at Panera is that there’s a strong convergence of what appeals to him personally and what the brand stands for. The chain’s purpose is to make the world healthier and happier, and it looks to achieve this objective through an impact agenda that covers food beliefs, community, and a commitment to inclusivity. The chairman believes his C-suite position is a privilege and that leaders must be force multipliers of good. Sustainability is a moral imperative, nothing less. To Chaudhary, everyone needs to do more to help the world. Even Panera—for all it’s done in the past few decades—has room to be better. “I think that captures everything,” Chaudhary says. “That was the notion with which the founder created the brand many years ago.

www.qsrmagazine.com | QSR | JULY 2023

21