Panera Debuts ‘Bread Hat’ Ahead Of The Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is always going to serve up fashion. The Louisville-based horse race is packed with bold colors, head-turning hats, and Southern charm. The 150th Kentucky Derby is set to kick off on Saturday, May 4, and Panera is debuting their “bread hat” to celebrate. They’re also throwing in a $100 Panera gift card.
The bread hat isn’t made from an actual bread bowl but it sure does look like it. The hat was created by A-Morir Studio, which has created fashion for stars like Jennifer Lopez and Lady Gaga.
Panera Bread Hat: What it’s made of
According to the food chain, the hat’s centerpiece is a 3D-printed replica of a bread bowl surrounded by colorful ostrich feathers. It also has green and yellow feathers that serve as a nod to the brand’s broccoli and cheddar soup.
If you want one of these Derby-themed bread hats, they’re selling them online for $12 on ThePaneraShop.com. The company said that the price tag is a playful nod to its “21 new and enhanced dishes” on its newly revamped menu.
Additionally, all online purchases of the hat will come with a $100 gift card. You can use it to get yourself a matching broccoli cheddar soup bread bowl to match your hat. The company also said you will get your hat before the Kentucky Derby.
The company shared the news about the hat on Instagram with a post that said, “Pace day fit check [hat emoji] [star emoji].”
The chain is no stranger to wearable merchandise. In 2021, the company created a bread bowl-shaped glove specifically designed to help people hold iced coffee. They set out to create something to protect these customers’ potentially “doubly-frozen” hands.
Last year, they opened an official merchandise shop. This is when they carried the viral BAGuette handbag. The website will be the go-to place to purchase Panera-themed swag. There are mac and cheese tracksuits, “all my friends are bread” crewnecks, and even a toddler onesie that reads “Just Baked.”
Earlier this month, the company announced a new menu. “Panera items guests love the most: Soups, Salads, Sandwiches, and Mac & Cheese. Filled with more than 20 menu updates – 9 delicious new menu items and 12 enhanced classics—the new menu offers guests better value through enhanced portions and lower price points, while also being easier for guests to navigate,” Panera said in a news release.
In addition to new and enhanced entrees, The chain has added more new menu options below $10, like the Tomato Basil BLT, Ranch Cobb Salad, and Mediterranean Greens with Grains.
