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<TITLE>Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance</TITLE>
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<P style="font-size: 14pt" align="center"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
<FONT style="font-size: 12pt">Washington, D.C. 20549
</FONT></B>

<P style="font-size: 18pt" align="center"><B>FORM 8-K</B>

<P style="font-size: 12pt" align="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT<BR>
Pursuant to
Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest
event reported): August 27, 2008</B>

<P style="font-size: 24pt" align="center"><B>PANERA BREAD COMPANY<BR>
</B><FONT
style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
</FONT>
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center" cellspacing="0"
cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

 <TR>
  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>000-19253</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>04-2723701</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Commission File Number)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(IRS Employer Identification No.)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>
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cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0">

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  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD width="49%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>6710 Clayton
Road,<BR>
Richmond Heights, MO<BR>
</B></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid"><B>63117</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="top">
  <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number,
including area code: <B>(314) 633-7100</B>
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center" cellspacing="0"
cellpadding="0" width="30%" border="0">

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  <TD width="100%">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid" nowrap><B>Not Applicable</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR>
  <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
 </TR>

</TABLE>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left">Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of
the registrant under any of the following provisions:

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))<BR>
<BR>
<FONT
face="Wingdings">o</FONT> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))<BR>


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style="margin-left: 0.25in; width: 7.2in; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Section&nbsp;5 &#8211; Corporate
Governance and Management</B>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;5.04&nbsp;Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant&#146;s Employee Benefit Plans.</b>



<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 3%" align="left">On August&nbsp;27,
2008, Panera Bread Company (the &#8220;Company&#8221;) sent a notice (the
&#8220;Notice&#8221;) to its directors and executive officers informing them
that in order to implement a transition to a new trustee and recordkeeper for
the Company&#8217;s 401(k) Savings Plan (the &#8220;Plan&#8221;), Plan
participants will be unable to direct or diversify investments in the Plan, or
obtain a loan or distribution from the Plan, during the period beginning at
4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on October&nbsp;1, 2008 and ending the week
of November&nbsp;3, 2008 (the &#8220;Blackout Period&#8221;).

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 3%" align="left">The Notice also states
that, pursuant to Section&nbsp;306(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the
Company&#8217;s directors and executive officers will be prohibited from
directly or indirectly purchasing, selling or otherwise acquiring or
transferring shares of the Company&#8217;s Class&nbsp;A common stock,
Class&nbsp;B common stock, or any other equity securities (including certain
derivative securities pertaining to such shares) during the Blackout Period,
unless such transaction is exempt under Regulation&nbsp;BTR of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 3%" align="left">A copy of the Notice
is filed as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 3%" align="left">During the Blackout
Period and for two years after the end date thereof, a stockholder or other
interested person may obtain, without charge, information regarding the
Blackout Period, including the actual end date of the Blackout Period, by
contacting Fidelity Management Trust Company at 82 Devonshire Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, 02109 or at 1-800-835-5097.

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 5%"
align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On
August&nbsp;27, 2008, the Company received the notice required by
Section&nbsp;101(i)(2)(E) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.




<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Section&nbsp;9 &#8211; Financial
Statements and Exhibits</B>


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="left"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01&nbsp;Financial Statements and
Exhibits.</b>




<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 3%"
align="left">(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Exhibits. The following
exhibit is filed as part of this Report on Form 8-K: &nbsp;
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 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top">
<DIV
style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;No.</B>&nbsp;</DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left"><B>Description of Exhibit</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR style="font-size: 1px">
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<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV>
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align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
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<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV>
</TD>
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  <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top">
<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">99.1 </DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Notice pursuant to Section&nbsp;306(a) of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to Directors and Executive Officers of Panera Bread
Company, dated August&nbsp;27, 2008.</TD>
 </TR>
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">2
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>SIGNATURE</B>

<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 3%" align="left">Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.


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  <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
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 </TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left" colspan="2"><B>PANERA BREAD COMPANY</B></TD>
 </TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left" style="border-bottom: #000000 1px solid">/s/ Jeffrey W. Kip</TD>
 </TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp; Jeffrey W. Kip</TD>
 </TR>

 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer</TD>
 </TR>
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</DIV>




<P style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 45%" align="left">Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;August&nbsp;29, 2008


<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">3
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<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;Index</B> &nbsp;
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"
border="0">
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  <TD width="12%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV>
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 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top">
<DIV
style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px"><B>Exhibit&nbsp;No.</B>&nbsp;</DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left"><B>Description of Exhibit</B></TD>
 </TR>
 <TR style="font-size: 1px">
  <TD style="border-top: #000000 1px solid" valign="top">
<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD style="border-top: #000000 1px solid" valign="top"
align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
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  <TD valign="top">
<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">&nbsp;</DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
 </TR>
 <TR valign="bottom">
  <TD valign="top">
<DIV style="margin-left: 0px; text-indent: 0px">99.1 </DIV>
</TD>
  <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
  <TD valign="top" align="left">Notice pursuant to Section&nbsp;306(a) of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to Directors and Executive Officers of Panera Bread
Company, dated August&nbsp;27, 2008.</TD>
 </TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->

</TABLE>
</DIV>&nbsp;

<P style="font-size: 10pt" align="center">&nbsp;

<P style="display: none; font-size: 10pt" align="center">4
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Filed by Bowne Pure Compliance
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to
Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest
event reported): August 27, 2008
PANERA BREAD COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
000-19253
04-2723701
(State or other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
6710 Clayton
Road,
Richmond Heights, MO
63117
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number,
including area code:
(314) 633-7100
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the
Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of
the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant
to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Section 5 – Corporate
Governance and Management
Item 5.04 Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant's Employee Benefit Plans.
On August 27,
2008, Panera Bread Company (the "Company") sent a notice (the
"Notice") to its directors and executive officers informing them
that in order to implement a transition to a new trustee and recordkeeper for
the Company's 401(k) Savings Plan (the "Plan"), Plan
participants will be unable to direct or diversify investments in the Plan, or
obtain a loan or distribution from the Plan, during the period beginning at
4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on October 1, 2008 and ending the week
of November 3, 2008 (the "Blackout Period").
The Notice also states
that, pursuant to Section 306(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the
Company's directors and executive officers will be prohibited from
directly or indirectly purchasing, selling or otherwise acquiring or
transferring shares of the Company's Class A common stock,
Class B common stock, or any other equity securities (including certain
derivative securities pertaining to such shares) during the Blackout Period,
unless such transaction is exempt under Regulation BTR of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
A copy of the Notice
is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
During the Blackout
Period and for two years after the end date thereof, a stockholder or other
interested person may obtain, without charge, information regarding the
Blackout Period, including the actual end date of the Blackout Period, by
contacting Fidelity Management Trust Company at 82 Devonshire Street, Boston,
Massachusetts, 02109 or at 1-800-835-5097.
On
August 27, 2008, the Company received the notice required by
Section 101(i)(2)(E) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.
Section 9 – Financial
Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and
Exhibits.
(d)      Exhibits. The following
exhibit is filed as part of this Report on Form 8-K:
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibit
99.1
Notice pursuant to Section 306(a) of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to Directors and Executive Officers of Panera Bread
Company, dated August 27, 2008.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
PANERA BREAD COMPANY
By:
/s/ Jeffrey W. Kip
Name:   Jeffrey W. Kip
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer
Date:    August 29, 2008
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibit
99.1
Notice pursuant to Section 306(a) of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to Directors and Executive Officers of Panera Bread
Company, dated August 27, 2008.