Casey Bastian Receives Women in Business Award from Triangle Business Journal

Raleigh, NC, August 12, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Triangle-based Panera Bread bakery-cafés announce today that Vice President of Operations Casey Bastian is a 2007 Women in Business Award winner. The award, presented by Triangle Business Journal, recognizes Bastian for her success and dynamic leadership. She received her award at the 10th annual luncheon and ceremony on August 9.

Each year, the Women in Business Awards program honors 25 influential Triangle businesswomen for their accomplishments and achievements throughout the community.

“I’m honored to receive the Women in Business Award from Triangle Business Journal,” says Bastian. “It’s great to be recognized with such a prestigious group of peers.”

Triangle Business Journal will publish an in-depth special section on the 2007 Women in Business Awards in its August 31 edition. The issue will feature profiles of all winners and highlights of the event.

“Once again we are honoring an incredible group of accomplished women,” says Charlene Grunwaldt, Triangle Business Journal publisher. “The Triangle has a very active, impressive and successful community of professional women.”

Breadwinners at the Triangle currently operates 13 Panera Bread bakery-cafés. The first location opened in 1999 at the Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh.

About Panera Bread:
Panera Bread serves fresh baked, handcrafted artisan breads, sweet and savory baked goods, hand-tossed salads, wholesome soups, and signature sandwiches in a distinctly warm and welcoming environment. Panera Bread is committed to using only the highest quality, fresh ingredients in the food we offer, and making a lasting contribution to the neighborhoods in which our customers and employees live and work through programs like Operation Dough-Nation. Headquartered in Richmond Heights, MO, Panera Bread operates 1,101 bakery-cafes (430 company-owned and 671 franchised) as of August 3, 2007. For more information, visit www.panerabread.com.

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