Updated May 2026
Panera Bread Group Ordering 2026
How to Feed 10 to 50 People Without Stress
Whether it is an office lunch, a family gathering, or a team meeting, Panera's catering system is built for groups. This guide covers every option from sandwich trays to individual boxed lunches, with real pricing for groups of 10, 25, and 50 people. Learn the cheapest way to feed your team and avoid common ordering mistakes.
$7.50
Per Person Min
24 hrs
Lead Time
10 to 50+
Group Size
Delivery
Available
Two Ways to Order for a Group
Panera runs two separate systems for feeding groups. Choose based on your budget, group size, and how much control everyone needs over their meal.
Best Value
Catering Trays
Traditional catering with full trays, salad bowls, soup tubs, and pastry rings. Designed for groups of 10 to 50 plus. Everyone shares from communal platters.
- Cheapest per person ($7.50 to $9.00)
- Best for groups of 10 or more
- Requires 24 hour lead time
Order at catering.panerabread.com
App Group Ordering
Everyone picks their own meal from the full menu using a shared cart link. One person pays. Everyone gets exactly what they want. No lead time required.
- Everyone picks their own meal
- No lead time (order same day)
- More expensive ($11 to $16 per person)
Use the Panera app Group Order feature
Sample Menus and Pricing by Group Size
Three complete meal plans with real 2026 pricing. These are the combinations that work best for each group size.
10 People
Small Office Meeting
Signature Sandwich Tray$89.99
Pastry Ring (12 pcs)$24.99
Coffee Chafer (10 cups)$24.99
Total~$140
About $14.00 per person
Sweet Spot
25 People
Best Value
2x Sandwich Trays$179.98
1x Caesar Salad Bowl$49.99
1x Broccoli Cheddar Soup Tub$29.99
1x Pastry Ring$24.99
2x Coffee Chafers$49.98
Total~$335
About $13.40 per person
50 People
Large Event
4x Sandwich Trays$359.96
2x Salad Bowls$99.98
3x Soup Tubs$74.97
2x Pastry Rings$49.98
2x Coffee Chafers$49.98
Total~$635
About $12.70 per person
Prices from Panera catering portal May 2026. Delivery fees additional.
Catering Bestsellers
6 Items Everyone Orders for Groups
These are the catering items that show up at every Panera group event. They are reliable, popular, and easy to serve.
$89.99
Top Pick
Signature Sandwich Tray
Serves 10 to 12 people
Mix of Turkey Avo BLT, Italian, and Napa Almond Chicken sandwiches. Cut in half for easy sharing.
$29.99
Comfort
Broccoli Cheddar Soup Tub
Serves 6 to 8 people
Panera's most popular soup in a sharing tub. Stays warm 90 minutes. Bowls included.
$49.99
Classic
Caesar Salad Bowl
Serves 6 to 8 people
Crisp romaine with Caesar dressing on the side. Tongs and plates included with order.
$24.99
Sweet
Pastry Ring
Serves 12 pastries
Assorted croissants, muffins, and scones arranged in a ring. Perfect for morning meetings.
$12.99
Individual
Boxed Lunch
Serves 1 person
Full sandwich, side, cookie, and pickle in one wrapped box. Easy to distribute.
$24.99
Essential
Coffee Chafer
Serves 10 cups
Hot coffee with cups, lids, cream, and sugar. Stays warm about 2 hours in the insulated box.
How to Place Your Group Order
Four methods depending on your timeline and group size
1
Catering Portal Online
Go to catering.panerabread.com, enter your location, select trays, and schedule delivery or pickup. Requires 24 hour lead time. Best for 10 plus people.
catering.panerabread.com2
Panera App Group Order
Create a shared cart in the app. Send the link to your team. Everyone picks their own meal. One person pays. No lead time needed. Best for 2 to 15 people.
App setup guide3
Call the Store Directly
For custom orders, special diets, or events above 50 people. Ask for the catering coordinator. They can handle complex requests the online portal cannot.
Find store number4
Individual Boxed Lunches
Order wrapped boxes through the catering portal. Each box has a sandwich, side, cookie, and pickle. Perfect for grab and go events and staggered eating times.
Boxed lunch options7 Ways to Cut Your Group Order Bill
Tested strategies from corporate event planners
1
Choose Trays Over Boxed Lunches
A sandwich tray for 12 people costs $89.99 ($7.50 per person). Twelve boxed lunches cost $155.88 ($12.99 each). That is a $66 difference for the same headcount.
2
Skip Delivery With Rapid Pick Up
Delivery fees run $5 to $15. If someone can grab the order, use Rapid Pick Up and save the fee plus tip.
3
Use the Sip Club for Drinks
If team members have the $14.99 Sip Club, they can get their own free drinks instead of you buying Coffee Chafers at $24.99 each.
4
Order Soup Instead of Extra Salad
Soup tubs are $24.99 to $29.99 and serve 6 to 8. Salad bowls are $49.99 to $54.99. Soup is half the price and fills people up.
5
Pick Up the Day Before
Sandwich trays and pastries stay fresh overnight refrigerated. Pick up Saturday for a Monday event and avoid the Sunday catering rush.
6
Combine Breakfast and Lunch Items
Bagel trays at $34.99 for 13 bagels are cheaper than extra sandwiches. People eat lighter in the morning anyway.
7
Confirm Your Headcount Twice
Overordering is the biggest budget killer. Send a survey, get firm yes or no responses, then add only 10 percent extra for safety.
Avoid These
5 Group Ordering Mistakes to Avoid
These cost you money, food, and time at every event
Ordering the Day Before a Monday Event
Sunday catering slots fill up fast. If your event is Monday, place the order by Thursday or Friday. Waiting until Sunday morning often means no delivery windows available.
Forgetting Dietary Restrictions
Every group has someone with dietary needs. Check our guides for gluten conscious options, vegan items, and the full allergen menu before you order.
Skipping the Beverages
A full meal without drinks feels incomplete. A Coffee Chafer costs $24.99 for 10 cups. That small addition transforms the experience from there was food to they catered the whole thing.
Not Confirming 24 Hours Out
Call the store the day before to verify your order is in the system. Online orders occasionally get lost. A 30 second phone call prevents catastrophe on event day.
Using Only Sandwich Trays
A table with nothing but sandwiches looks monotonous. Mix at least three categories: sandwiches, soup or salad, and dessert. The visual spread matters as much as the food.
Written by Marcus Cole
Catering pricing from Panera's official portal — May 2026
All catering prices are from Panera's online catering portal as of May 2026. Prices may vary by location. Delivery fees are additional. See detailed catering prices here and find your local store to confirm availability.
More Panera Guides Worth Reading
Catering
Full Catering Menu
Every tray, bowl, and bundle option with full pricing details.
Pricing
Catering Prices 2026
Item by item breakdown of every catering option and cost.
Tools
Catering Calculator
Calculate exact costs for your group size with custom menus.
Delivery
Delivery Guide
Delivery fees, zones, and timing for catering orders.
App
Mobile App Guide
How to set up and use Group Ordering in the Panera app.
Value
Family Feast Meals
Complete family meals that work perfectly for small groups.
Group Ordering Questions Answered
Common questions about Panera catering, group orders, pricing, and logistics.
What is the cheapest way to feed a group at Panera?
Sandwich trays are the best value. A Signature Sandwich Tray feeds 10 to 12 people for about $89.99 which is $7.50 to $9.00 per person. Compare that to individual boxed lunches at $12.99 each. For soup, group soup tubs serve 6 to 8 people for $24.99 to $29.99. Mix sandwich trays with soup tubs and a salad bowl for the best cost per person ratio.
How far in advance do I need to order Panera catering?
At least 24 hours for standard catering orders. For large events with 30 or more people, 48 to 72 hours is recommended. Same day catering is possible at some locations but not guaranteed. Place your order through the Panera catering portal or call the store directly.
Does Panera have boxed lunches?
Yes. Panera Individual Boxed Lunches include a full sandwich, a side like chips, apple, or baguette, a cookie, and a pickle. They cost $12.99 to $14.99 each depending on the sandwich. Boxed lunches are individually packaged, making them easy to distribute at meetings and events.
What is the minimum order for Panera catering?
There is no hard minimum, but the catering menu is designed for groups of 6 or more. Sandwich trays start at 10 to 12 servings. Soup tubs serve 6 to 8. You can order as little as one tray, but the value improves with larger orders. Some locations may have a minimum order for delivery.
Does Panera deliver catering orders?
Yes. Panera offers catering delivery for an additional fee typically $5 to $15 depending on order size and distance. Delivery is available for orders of any size through the catering portal. For large events, delivery is recommended to ensure everything arrives on time and at the right temperature.
Can I customize a Panera catering order?
Yes. You can specify sandwich types, request dietary accommodations, and mix and match trays. When ordering online, the customization options are limited to preset trays. For fully custom orders, call the store directly and speak to the catering coordinator.
What is the best Panera catering for an office meeting?
For a 15 person meeting order 1 Signature Sandwich Tray at $89.99, 1 Caesar Salad Bowl at $49.99, 1 Pastry Ring at $24.99, and 1 Coffee Chafer at $24.99. Total is about $190 or $12.67 per person. This covers lunch, a side, dessert, and coffee which are all Panera staples.
Does Panera do breakfast catering?
Yes. Breakfast catering includes Breakfast Sandwich Trays with 12 sandwiches for about $72, Bagel Trays with 13 bagels with cream cheese for about $34.99, Pastry and Muffin Assortments at $24.99, and Coffee Chafers at $24.99 for 10 cups. Order by 2 PM the day before for next morning pickup.
Can I set up a Panera group order where everyone picks their own item?
Yes. Panera's Group Ordering feature in the app lets you create a shared cart. Send the link to your group, each person adds their own items, and you submit one combined order. This is great for offices where everyone wants something different but you want to place one order and one payment.
How much does it cost to feed 50 people at Panera?
Budget approximately $10 to $15 per person for a full meal. For 50 people order 4 Sandwich Trays for $360, 2 Salad Bowls for $100, 3 Soup Tubs for $75, 2 Pastry Rings for $50, and 2 Coffee Chafers for $50. Total is about $635 or $12.70 per person. This is a complete meal with variety, sides, and drinks.
Feed Your Team for Less
25 people for $335. That is $13.40 per person for a full Panera meal with sandwiches, salad, soup, and dessert.
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