By Joseph Lamour—
Today
Bakery and coffee chain Panera has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a group of class-action lawsuits, which will mean a cash settlement for some of its customers.
Kroll Settlement Administration, the company in charge of managing the agreement, said that Panera was accused in three states - Missouri, California and Illinois - of altering rates and menu prices for delivery orders, in the company's app and website.
Panera's actions occurred between October 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021.
Panera was accused of increasing food prices for delivery orders by between 5% and 7%, according to a court complaint dated February 22, 2023. The complaint accuses the company of adding hidden costs that constituted an extra fee, for the delivery of your products.
Panera has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a group of class-action lawsuits.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
“In other words, an identical sandwich costs approximately one dollar more when ordered for delivery than when ordered through the same mobile app for pickup, as opposed to when ordered in-store,” the lawsuit noted, stating that the alleged hidden surcharge was “specifically designed” to cover home delivery costs.
Panera did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TODAY.com, but has denied that its practices “give rise to claims for damages” by the plaintiffs or any of the members of the legal complaint, but has “decided to avoid more defense costs” with the agreement reached.
The company reached the agreement under the stipulation that it would not have to admit any fault, ensuring that the agreement “shall not be construed as any admission or concession on the part of Panera.”
How to claim the money?
Customers who placed a delivery order on the Panera app and/or website between October 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021 may be entitled to a payment as part of the class action settlement.
Those who qualify may receive compensation in two ways:
Soups & Mac Vouchers Settlement Award
: Class Members can choose to receive two vouchers for a free Panera Soups & Mac menu item.
Kroll's website indicated that this is valued at a maximum of $19 per claimant, or $9.50 per voucher.
No additional purchase is necessary to use them.
Cash Compensation:
Plaintiffs can also choose to receive an electronic payment of up to $12 through PayPal.
But if the number of claimants increases too much, the agreement will divide the payments proportionately.
Affected customers who have been emailed identification as part of the class action lawsuit can fill out an online claim form before the June 10 deadline.
[Panera Bread will warn about its highly caffeinated lemonade in its restaurants after a lawsuit over the death of a customer]
They will need to provide proof of purchase to verify their right to claim, which may be the phone number with which the order was placed and an email notice, if they have received one.
Additionally, those who have not received an email notice, but who understand that they fall under the class action, can download a claim form, complete it and mail it to: Panera Delivery Fees Settlement, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC , PO Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391.