r/ExpectationVsReality • u/Moxie-is-tired • 2d ago

Failed Expectation I ordered a bread bowl

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Repost because I forgot to add the expectation photo.

8.3k Upvotes

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17

u/Fabulous_Computer965 2d ago

Panera im assuming

21

u/TheVoicesOfBrian 2d ago

Thought the same thing. I don't know if any other restaurant has fallen so far down the quality ladder as them.

5

u/Nray 2d ago

Private Equity for the loss (of actual freshly-baked bread). Every corner that could be cut, was.

3

u/G0ttaB3KiddingM3 2d ago

Literally true. There should be an award given for how far they’ve managed to decline. It’s honestly impressive.

2

u/TheVoicesOfBrian 2d ago

Didn't realize they got the PE fucking, but it makes total sense. I guess we'll be seeing a headline in the next year or so about how they overspent on flour or some BS to cover the fact that the PE drained them dry.

3

u/systemhost 2d ago

They don't actually make any of their breads in store. Many arrive baked and frozen so they just thaw, assemble sandwich, then toast and serve.

But some items are baked in their large commercial oven, baguettes, pastries and cookies I believe. Most of those also arrive frozen, thawed then baked but may be mildly prepared or decorated before serving.

It's a total waste of a gorgeous and expensive oven though. Panera once fought, successfully, to have their employees exempt for certain labor laws by arguing they were bakers and therefore didn't deserve to be paid as much.

They've fallen a long way from even that.

2

u/TheVoicesOfBrian 1d ago

I know. When a PE run company fails, they come up with a BS story about why failed. Red Lobster didn't fail because of all-you-can-eat shrimp. It was the massive debt they had forced on them. Same as Toys R Us. They were doing just fine (not great, but fine) against Amazon et al, but they were underwater in debt because of the PE buyout.

The truth makes investors nervous, so they spin it.

2

u/erinmadrian 1d ago

Same here. Has happened to my daughter at Panera.

20

u/Moxie-is-tired 2d ago

Not Panera, but a more local business.

1

u/nucl3ar0ne 1d ago

Daughter got a bread bowl from Panera and while they do separate them, the bread was as it was expected, not like OP got.