Additionally, its societal focus on healthy living and environmentally friendly practices through the preparation of clean, healthy, and sustainable products continues to place Panera on the map in terms on new opportunities such as expansion, limited competition in the field of healthy products, and room to expand. Panera boasts a host of opportunities, as mentioned, based primarily on its service of 130 million customers daily (2010 Annual Report, 2012, pp.6). In this capacity, Panera has the ability to expand its potential market base considerably should it market itself correctly to the public and to its current consumer-base. In the field in which Panera exists, Panera, while essentially fast food, is a company that sets itself apart from its competition through its ability to provide quick and healthy meals to its patrons in clean and friendly environment that will keep them coming back for more. Panera has been able to set the standard of excellence in the area of healthy eating since its inception as a company.

However, there are certain threats that have the capacity to alter Panera's consumer base, should Panera be unable to deal with their effect. For instance, in an environment in which the economy and people's bank accounts are still reeling from the recent recession, while fast food has become a viable and heavily-utilized food option, the sheer amount of fast food, sit down restaurants, quick service restaurants, fast casual restaurants, and the ability to simply eat at home continue to encroach on Panera's business outside of its loyal consumer base. Additionally, with companies such as Chipotle rising to success throughout the country, offering the same types of healthy food items, a large threat is present if Panera is not able to differentiate itself from its competition.

Discuss the Internal Structure, Culture and Resources

Above all, Panera has...

Panera uses highly-trained staff and employees to provide high-quality food products to its customers in a clean, friendly and welcoming environment. Panera has been able to gain a considerably large and equally loyal customer base in the United States, specifically in the Northeast and Midwest. Panera not only offers healthy options to its customers, but it does so in an exceedingly large menu with a large variety of options that can serve any customer's particular tastes. Panera, however, does have its own set of weaknesses which stem largely from its status as a franchise, which makes expansion tough, especially in times of economic hardship. Additionally, though Panera is not yet present in every state, as would be ideal, the company continues to make strides in ensuring its presence will be completely nationwide in the years to come. As such, Panera's strengths far surpass its weaknesses, as has been the case since its creation -- a vital reason behind its continued success.