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

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

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

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 15, 2008</B>

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 24pt"><B>PANERA BREAD COMPANY<BR></B>
<FONT style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>000-19253</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>04-2723701</B></TD>
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<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>
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    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>6710 Clayton Road<BR>Richmond Heights, MO<BR></B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>63117</B></TD>
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    <TD>(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>(Zip Code)</TD>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: <B>314-633-7100</B>


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    <TD nowrap>(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)</TD>
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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">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 align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)<BR><BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</FONT> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)<BR><BR>
<FONT face="Wingdings">&#111;</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">&#111;</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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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Item&nbsp;7.01.<U> Regulation&nbsp;FD Disclosure</U>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 2%">Attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1, and incorporated herein by reference, is a copy of the Company&#146;s press release dated
September&nbsp;15, 2008 reaffirming its previously issued earnings guidance for the fiscal third quarter 2008.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 2%">The information in this Form 8-K (including Exhibit&nbsp;99.1) shall not be deemed &#147;filed&#148; for purposes of Section&nbsp;18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section,
nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act,
except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.


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


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 2%">(d)&nbsp;Exhibits


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 2%">The following exhibit relating to Item&nbsp;7.01 shall be deemed to be furnished, and not filed:

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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Press Release, dated September&nbsp;15, 2008</TD>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 2%">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.



<P align="left" style="margin-left:46%; font-size: 10pt">PANERA BREAD COMPANY



<P align="left" style="margin-left:46%; font-size: 10pt">By:<U> /s/ Jeffrey W. Kip&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U><BR>
Name: Jeffrey W. Kip<BR>
Title: <I>Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer</I><BR>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Date: September&nbsp;15, 2008


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<P align="left" style="margin-left:0%; font-size: 10pt">Exhibit&nbsp;Index

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    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit</TD>
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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">99.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Press Release, dated September&nbsp;15, 2008</TD>
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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): September 15, 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))
Item 7.01.
Regulation FD Disclosure
Attached as Exhibit 99.1, and incorporated herein by reference, is a copy of the Company's press release dated
September 15, 2008 reaffirming its previously issued earnings guidance for the fiscal third quarter 2008.
The information in this Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section,
nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act,
except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
The following exhibit relating to Item 7.01 shall be deemed to be furnished, and not filed:
Exhibit No.
Exhibit
99.1
Press Release, dated September 15, 2008
SIGNATURES
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: September 15, 2008
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Exhibit
99.1
Press Release, dated September 15, 2008