Feed 10 to 50 People the Smart Way
Whether you are feeding a 10 person office meeting or catering a 50 person event, Panera has two ordering systems built for groups. This guide breaks down every option with real 2026 pricing, step by step instructions, and tested strategies to keep your per-person cost as low as possible.
$7.50
Lowest Per Person
24 hrs
Min Lead Time
10 to 50+
Group Size
Yes
Delivery Available
Panera runs two completely separate systems for group orders. Catering trays are cheaper per person but need advance notice. The app group order is flexible but costs more. Here is how they compare side by side.
| Feature | Catering Trays | App Group Order |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Per Person | $7.50 to $13.00 | $11.00 to $16.00 |
| Best Group Size | 10 to 50+ | 2 to 15 |
| Lead Time | 24 to 72 hours | Same day |
| Menu Choice | Preset trays and bowls | Full menu |
| Individual Control | No (shared platters) | Yes (everyone picks) |
| Delivery Available | Yes ($5 to $15 fee) | Yes (via DoorDash) |
| How to Order | catering.panerabread.com | Panera app |
Quick rule of thumb
If your group is 10 or more people and you have at least 24 hours of lead time, always use catering trays. You will save 30 to 40 percent compared to individual ordering through the app.
Three complete meal plans using Panera catering trays with June 2026 pricing. Each plan includes sandwiches, sides, dessert, and coffee so your group gets a full meal, not just a tray of sandwiches.
10
People
Small Office Meeting
$14.00 per person
25
People
Team Lunch or Workshop
$13.40 per person
50
People
Large Event or All-Hands
$12.70 per person
Prices from Panera catering portal as of June 2026. Delivery fees are additional. Prices may vary by location.
These are the go-to catering picks that work for every group size and occasion. They are reliable, easy to serve, and universally liked.
$89.99 Top Pick Serves 10 to 12
Mix of Turkey Avo BLT, Italian, and Napa Almond Chicken sandwiches cut in half for easy sharing.
$29.99 Comfort Serves 6 to 8
Panera most popular soup in a sharing tub with bowls included. Stays warm about 90 minutes.
$49.99 Classic Serves 6 to 8
Crisp romaine with dressing on the side. Tongs and plates included. Add chicken for more protein.
$24.99 Dessert Serves 12 pcs
Assorted croissants, muffins, and scones arranged in a ring. Great for morning meetings.
$12.99 Grab and Go Serves 1 person
Full sandwich, side, cookie, and pickle in one wrapped box. Individually packaged.
$24.99 Essential Serves 10 cups
Hot coffee with cups, lids, cream, and sugar. Stays warm about 2 hours in the insulated box.
Pick the method that fits your timeline, group size, and how much control you need. Each method has its own advantages depending on the situation.
Go to catering.panerabread.com, enter your location, browse trays and bowls, and schedule delivery or pickup. The portal shows real-time availability and pricing for your area. Payment is processed when you place the order.
View catering menuOpen the Panera app, tap Group Order, and create a shared cart. Send the link to your team via text or email. Everyone adds their own items to the cart. One person submits the combined order and pays. Great when everyone wants something different.
App setup guideFor fully custom menus, special dietary needs, or events above 50 people, call the store and ask for the catering coordinator. They can build custom packages that the online portal does not offer and handle complex logistics.
Find store numberOrder through the catering portal but choose boxed lunches instead of trays. Each box has a full sandwich, a side (chips, apple, or baguette), a cookie, and a pickle. Perfect for staggered lunch times or outdoor events where plates are impractical.
Boxed lunch optionsMost group ordering guides focus on lunch. But Panera breakfast catering is a strong option for morning meetings, workshops, and team kickoffs. The pricing is competitive and the setup is simpler than lunch.
~$72 for 12 sandwiches
Scrambled egg, cheese, and bacon on ciabatta. Individually wrapped. Serves 12 people at $6 per person.
$34.99 for 13 bagels
Assorted bagels with two tubs of cream cheese. Comes with a knife and napkins. Under $2.70 per person.
$24.99 for 12 pieces
Mix of croissants, muffins, and scones. Great as a standalone breakfast or alongside sandwiches and coffee.
$24.99 for 10 cups
Hot brewed coffee in an insulated box. Includes cups, lids, cream, sugar, and stir sticks. Stays warm about 2 hours.
Breakfast order deadline
Place breakfast catering orders by 2 PM the day before for next-morning pickup. Morning pickup windows are typically 7 AM to 10 AM.
Tested strategies from people who order Panera catering regularly for office events and meetings. Each tip can save you anywhere from $15 to $65 on a single order.
A sandwich tray for 12 people costs $89.99 which works out to $7.50 per person. Twelve boxed lunches cost $155.88 at $12.99 each. That is a $66 difference for the same headcount. Unless you specifically need individual packaging, trays are always the better deal.
Delivery fees run $5 to $15 depending on order size and distance. If someone from your team can grab the order, use Rapid Pick Up instead and put the delivery savings toward extra food or better sides.
If your team members have the $14.99 per month Unlimited Sip Club, they can get their own drinks for free instead of you paying $24.99 per Coffee Chafer. Even 3 Sip Club members save you from buying an extra chafer.
Soup tubs are $24.99 to $29.99 and serve 6 to 8 people. Salad bowls are $49.99 to $54.99 for the same serving size. Soup costs roughly half the price per serving and fills people up just as well, especially in cooler months.
For a brunch meeting, bagel trays at $34.99 for 13 bagels are significantly cheaper than adding another sandwich tray. People eat lighter in the morning anyway, so bagels plus one sandwich tray covers more people for less.
Sunday catering slots fill up fast. If your event is Monday, pick up sandwich trays on Saturday. They stay fresh overnight in the fridge. This also gives you backup time if anything is wrong with the order.
Overordering is the single biggest budget killer for group meals. Send a survey to your group, get firm yes or no answers, then add only 10 percent extra as a buffer. For 25 confirmed people, order for 28. Not 35.
These mistakes show up at every office event and team lunch. They cost you money, waste food, and create problems that are easy to prevent with a little planning.
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 are available and limited menu choices.
Every group of 10 or more has at least one person with dietary needs. Check Panera allergen info and ask your group about restrictions before ordering. Panera has gluten conscious, vegetarian, and vegan options available.
A full meal without drinks feels incomplete and people notice. A single Coffee Chafer costs $24.99 for 10 cups. That small addition transforms the experience from basic lunch to properly catered meal.
Call the store the day before your event to verify the order is in their system. Online orders occasionally get lost or have errors. A 30 second phone call prevents a disaster on event day.
A table with nothing but sandwiches looks monotonous and feels low effort. Mix at least three categories: sandwiches plus soup or salad plus a dessert item. The visual spread matters as much as the food quality.
Catering
Every tray, bowl, and bundle option with full pricing details.
Pricing
Item by item breakdown of every Panera catering option and cost.
Tools
Calculate exact costs for your group size with custom menus.
Delivery
Delivery fees, zones, and timing for Panera catering orders.
App
How to set up and use Group Ordering in the Panera app.
Value
Complete family meal deals that also work for small groups.
Common questions about Panera catering, group orders, pricing, and logistics for office events and gatherings.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes. Panera 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.
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.
25 people, full meal with sandwiches, salad, soup, dessert, and coffee. Total: about $335. That is $13.40 per person.
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