Why men don't like Panera...

Manly man wants steak sandwich...not a sierra turkey
on asiago bread and a whole wheat baguette.

Just a casual observation, but in my experience it seems that most men don't like Panera. I have discussed this with a few friends both male and female, and they all seem to agree. Panera is far from the number 1 choice for men to dine. Next time you are at a Panera, look around. Do the men seem happy to be there? Or are they typically there by obligation, i.e...some woman dragged him there.

Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, one of them being, the wifi user. This guy can typically be found during normal business hours sipping on a coffee, checking up on some important emails and facebook updates.

So, no lie...I was sitting at a Panera this afternoon and was thinking about this subject. It seems to me that Panera is missing a huge opportunity. They need to market to this demographic. Men want, quantity...and by quantity I mean large portions of meat.

So attention Panera Marketing Dept, here's my $0.02:

• Create a sandwich menu targeted for the male consumer. Catch phrases like "Double meat stacker" and anything with the word "Steak"...seem like no-brainers to me.
• Also avoid using words like "asiago", "tomato basil", "ciabatta" etc. Instead describe the bread as "White" or "Hoagie roll".

Let's be honest Panera, you have completely neglected a huge demographic. I'm not suggesting you turn Panera into a sports bar...but create a sandwich menu made for men. Do that and I am willing to bet that the average ticket sale rises...