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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): October 21, 2008</B>

<P align="center">

<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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<TR valign="top">
    <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 style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Not Applicable<BR></B></TD>
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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;2.02. <U>Results of Operations and Financial Condition</U>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">Attached as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1, and incorporated herein by reference, is a copy of the Company&#146;s press release dated
October&nbsp;21, 2008 announcing its financial results for the third quarter ended September&nbsp;23, 2008 and describing the
Company&#146;s earnings targets for the fourth quarter of 2008 and full years of fiscal 2008 and 2009.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">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;7.01. <U>Regulation&nbsp;FD Disclosure</U>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">Panera Bread Company will discuss third quarter 2008 results, preliminary earnings targets for the fourth quarter
of 2008 and full years of fiscal 2008 and 2009 and preliminary comparable bakery-cafe sales results for the first
twenty-seven days of the fiscal 2008 fourth quarter in a conference call that will be broadcast on the Internet at 8:30
A.M. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, October&nbsp;22, 2008. Investors can access the call at
<U>http://www.panerabread.com/investor</U>. Access to the call will be archived for one year.


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



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


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 4%">The following exhibit relating to Item&nbsp;2.02 shall be deemed to be furnished, and not filed:

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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Exhibit&nbsp;No.
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">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 October&nbsp;21, 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: 4%">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="font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 48%">PANERA BREAD COMPANY



<P align="left" style="margin-left:48%; font-size: 10pt">By: <U><B>/</B>s/ Jeffrey W. Kip&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>
<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Name: Jeffrey W. Kip<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Title: <i>Senior Vice President,<br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chief Financial Officer</I>




<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Date: October&nbsp;21, 2008

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<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; display: none">2
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<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Exhibit&nbsp;Index

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    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000">Exhibit No.</TD>
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    <TD nowrap align="left" 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 October&nbsp;21, 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): October 21, 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 2.02.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Attached as Exhibit 99.1, and incorporated herein by reference, is a copy of the Company's press release dated
October 21, 2008 announcing its financial results for the third quarter ended September 23, 2008 and describing the
Company's earnings targets for the fourth quarter of 2008 and full years of fiscal 2008 and 2009.
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 7.01.
Regulation FD Disclosure
Panera Bread Company will discuss third quarter 2008 results, preliminary earnings targets for the fourth quarter
of 2008 and full years of fiscal 2008 and 2009 and preliminary comparable bakery-cafe sales results for the first
twenty-seven days of the fiscal 2008 fourth quarter in a conference call that will be broadcast on the Internet at 8:30
A.M. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, October 22, 2008. Investors can access the call at
http://www.panerabread.com/investor
. Access to the call will be archived for one year.
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
The following exhibit relating to Item 2.02 shall be deemed to be furnished, and not filed:
Exhibit No.
Exhibit
99.1
Press Release, dated October 21, 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: October 21, 2008
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Exhibit
99.1
Press Release, dated October 21, 2008