When I was hired at Panera, my first reaction was fear that I would find out some iffy details about the way that they prepared their food, the cleanliness of the restaurant, or things like that which might impact my love for Panera. At my previous job, nobody really ate certain products anymore after working there. Not because it was unclean or unsafe, but because you couldn't really order the same way anymore after knowing that everything came frozen and some of the cooks were pretty questionable people. However, my experience at Panera turned out to be a lot different.

1. They care about their product.

Immediately upon hire, the thorough, corporate-implemented training process really showed how much they value quality in what they serve. Of course, they also valued the customer and the service, but the biggest thing they cared about was hands down the quality of the food they served. Even as a cashier, there was a large emphasis placed on learning all about the different products, where they came from, and, of course, the value of the bread which they baked fresh daily. They constantly updated their menu with seasonal products, but at the end of the day, what they cared about most was the core of the company-- the bread. If you order a Bacon Turkey Bravo, you can feel confident that it's actually going to look like the picture above.

2. Things are baked fresh.

The bread you get at Panera is, rest assured, always baked that day. This goes for the pastries as well. Despite being in a college town, all of the bakers in our store were older people who enjoyed baking outside of their job and who were loyal employees to the company. That's relevant because it means that they hire people who care about their job and that they, too, really value the quality of the product they serve. Those souffles were absolutely irresistible sometimes when they were coming fresh out of the oven so often every morning.

3. They are making a positive impact.

On top of donating their left over pastries, bagels, and other products at the end of every night to local homeless shelters, the Panera Cares initiative is really creative and inspiring. Across the country, they have founded Panera Cares cafes, designed to combat the under-served issue of food insecurity. These cafes operate on a "pay what you can," basis, relying on donations to stay in business. Anyone can come in and order as they so choose, but rather than having a set menu with prices for every item, you pay as much or as little as you're able to offer. My favorite part about this is that they serve the issue of hunger right here in the US. While other countries struggle with hunger, often in a much more significant way, it's important not to forget to serve those right here in our own cities and neighborhoods as well.

4. They are ambitious and innovative.

Panera has a constant desire to grow. Not only did they come up with the creative idea mentioned above, but they were the first restaurant to really necessitate a new category of dining somewhere in between fast food and casual dining, now known as quick service. They are constantly updating their seasonal menu items to gauge which ones should become permanently offered, while maintaining their fan favorites like broccoli cheddar soup and the beloved Panera Mac and Cheese. They're always looking for ways to improve and it's evident to the employees on a constant basis.

5. Their delicious Green Tea is made with passionfruit and ripe papaya.

I had assumed based on the taste that the Green tea was definitely not good for you, but it is actually made with passionfruit and papaya. Passionfruit is a great antioxidant, high in Vitamins C and A, meaning it carries benefits for your immune system, digestive process, and even cancer prevention. The papaya, too, carries health benefits like protection against rheumatoid arthritis and even colon cancer. Of course, I'm not claiming that it's the healthiest drink in the world, but it carries much more nutritional value than I ever expected considering how incredibly delicious it is!

6. They value feedback.

They are constantly checking up on customer reviews and even have a board at each restaurant where they post some of the best and the worst reviews each week for employees to read. The managers go through and circle and highlight certain things to work on, as corporate suggests, because they really care what their guests have to say.

All in all, I am enormously impressed with Panera as a company and was proud to be an employee of their restaurant. I will always speak positively of their establishment, even from an inside perspective. So to all of my fellow mac and cheese and broccoli cheddar loving friends, just know that I'm still an avid lover of their food even after seeing how everything was made, and can tell you that I fully support their company.