Panera has challenged the restaurant industry to live off of their own children's menus for a full week. According to a recent article in QSR Magazine, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh has taken the brand up on their challenge and added a charitable twist: they will donate $1 to a children's hospital for every kids' meal purchased.

The challenge was issued in response to a trend of nutritionally empty meals being offered on many children's menus. Panera and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh are confident that their own offerings provide a healthier, more substantial meal to young guests.

“As a parent, I’m proud that I could eat off the Panera kids menu and still enjoy delicious and wholesome meals. I’m challenging the CEOs of some of the largest companies in the industry—McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s—to personally eat exclusively from their restaurants’ kids meals for an entire week—and if not, to take a thoughtful look at what they are offering our smallest guests," said Panera founder, Ron Shaich.

Read the full article here.

Don’t Miss the Next Big Franchise Story

Sign up for the 1851 Franchise newsletter to get our biggest stories before everyone else

By signing up, you agree to our user agreement (including class action waiver and arbitration provisions), and acknowledge our privacy policy.

Mary Zavell

About the Author

Mary Zavell

Follow