Our first bakery-cafe opened in 1987, founded with a secret sourdough starter and the belief that the best part of bread is sharing it. That vision led to the invention of the Fast Casual category with Panera at the forefront, centered around our delicious menu of chef-curated recipes that are crafted with care by our team members. We make food that we are proud to serve our own families, from crave-worthy soups, salads and sandwiches to mac & cheese and sweets. Each recipe is filled with ingredients we feel good about and none of those we don't because we are committed to serving our guests food that feels good in the moment and long after. While our company is now more than 2,200 bakery-cafes strong, our values and belief in the lasting power of a great meal remain as strong as ever. Nothing beats breaking bread together.

We believe in serving delicious, freshly prepared food made with carefully selected ingredients that we are proud to serve our own families. Our menu, crafted by chefs and bakers, features classic, comforting dishes, each with an intriguing twist.

We’re also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we offer omni-channel access to your Panera favorites – like mobile ordering, catering, and Rapid Pick-Up® for to-go orders, Curbside pick-up and delivery – all designed to make things easier for our guests.

Today, Panera operates as both Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co St. Louis Bread Company in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. To find a location in your area, click here.

Panera Bread is privately held by JAB Holding Company. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast casual restaurant platforms in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels.

Position Overview

The Analyst, Sensory & Consumer Insights will support Panera’s innovation pipeline and sensory testing programs by helping evaluate product performance, identify and size opportunities, and inform product development and optimization. This role will partner with cross-functional teams to execute research, translate findings into clear insights, and deliver actionable recommendations that support business decisions. Strong analytical, communication, and collaboration skills are critical to success in this position.

Scope of Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of this job include, but are not limited to:

Support sensory and concept testing for Panera Bread:

Partner with cross-functional teams to plan, manage, and execute sensory and product testing for recipes, ingredients, and future innovation

Design and program customer surveys that align with research objectives and deliver clear, actionable feedback

Manage the front-of-house sensory testing experience, including participant welcome and sign-in, survey troubleshooting, and food service coordination

Maintain sensory testing equipment, materials, documentation, and testing protocols

Analyze and present sensory and consumer research results to internal stakeholders, vendors, and suppliers

Maintain a historical database and benchmarking system of sensory test results to inform future decisions

Conduct focus groups or moderated feedback sessions with sensory participants, as needed

Develop recommendations to improve sensory testing, product performance, and guest experience

Analyze and report findings from concept tests (Datassential) and related consumer research studies

Support other sensory-related needs as defined by the business

Support broader Research & Insights projects:

Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders and become a trusted partner for research support and consumer insight

Develop and maintain strong relationships with trusted research vendors and partners

Maintain and update the research library to ensure teams have access to relevant, timely analysis and prior learnings

Qualifications (Education & Experience):

Prior Experience

Two to five years of relevant professional experience required
Food, beverage, restaurant, sensory testing, or product research experience strongly preferred

Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including:

Product development and innovation research, such as concept screening, sensory testing, or product testing

Segmentation, market structure, and strategic consumer analyses, including drivers of growth

Experience supporting or managing market research projects, including survey design, implementation, data analysis, interpretation, and report writing

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, DIY research environment

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to synthesize data and present analytical findings in a concise, compelling, and business-relevant way

Ability to work independently while seeking guidance and alignment from manager as needed

Strong data analysis skills, with preferred experience in statistical analysis, competitive evaluation, and insight synthesis

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Strong project management, organizational, and time management skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor insights for different audiences

Education

BA/BS in business, market research, statistics, food science or other related field

MBA a plus

Food service industry experience a plus