# Digitally Led Bakery-Cafes Panera's Small-Format Store Has a Digitized Menu & Tracking Screens By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2022-11-17 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bakerycafe References: [foodbusinessnews.net](https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/22590-panera-debuts-digitally-led-bakery-cafe)  To better suit the needs of digital and off-premise guests, [Panera](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/panera-rise-strategy) Brands debuted a new digitally led bakery-cafe in New York. Notably, this new location features a 40% smaller footprint than traditional bakery-cafes and it boasts tech-fueled features like [updated ordering kiosks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mr-pickles-sandwich-shop), a [fully digitized menu](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-powered-digital-menu-boards) and a new tracking screen for detailing the status of orders. These locations with limited counter seating options help to free up more space for the Rapid Pick-Up experience, which includes shelves for pick-up and to-go orders. With this new bakery-cafe format, Panera is incorporating its "brand world" with modern art, updated design elements and a color palette. As digital sales continue to increase, Panera is supporting the changing ways customers prefer to place orders with a focus on convenience. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.3/10 - Popularity: 55% | Activity: 32% | Freshness: 13% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Digitally-led Small-format Stores:** The trend of opening small-format stores with a high level of digital integration, including kiosks and digitized menus, is growing in popularity. - **Tech-fueled Order Tracking:** Restaurants are embracing technology to streamline the ordering process and improve the customer experience, including order tracking screens that display the status of orders in real-time. - **Optimized Space for Pick-up and To-go Orders:** To meet the growing demand for takeout and delivery orders, many restaurants are optimizing their physical space for convenient pick-up and to-go orders, including dedicated shelves and pick-up areas. ### Where This Applies - **Fast Food/quick Service Restaurants:** Fast food and quick service restaurants are incorporating digital technology and optimizing their physical space for pick-up and delivery orders to meet changing customer preferences. - **Cafes and Bakeries:** Cafes and bakeries are creating digitally-led small-format stores with a focus on convenience and efficient order processing. - **Retail and Convenience Stores:** Retail and convenience stores are exploring smaller, digitally-integrated formats to offer customers a quick and convenient shopping experience with a streamlined checkout process. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Contactless Dine-In Features](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contactless-dine-in.md) - [Online Order-Only Restaurant Locations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/panera-to-go.md) - [Digital-Oriented Restaurant Redesigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/global-next-gen.md) - [Digitally Focused Prototype Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prototype-restaurants.md) - [Digital Fast-Casual Kitchens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chipotlane.md) - [AI-Powered Drive-Throughs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tori-ai.md) - [Tech-Driven Drive Thrus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/techdriven-drivethru.md) - [Digital-Only Drive-Through Lanes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-in-forth-worth.md) - [Consumer-Driven Bakery Brand Transformations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/panera-rise-strategy.md)