<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>c71935exv99w1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE DATED SEPTEMBER 20, 2002
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: William W. Moreton
         Chief Financial Officer
Phone:   314-633-7123


                       PANERA BREAD COMPANY TO PRESENT AT
          BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES 32ND ANNUAL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE

St. Louis, MO September 20, 2002 - Panera Bread Company (Nasdaq: PNRA) will be
presenting at the Banc of America Securities 32nd Annual Investment Conference
to be held in San Francisco on Monday, September 23, 2002 at 3:00 PM PDT. An
audio webcast of the presentation will be available over the Internet at
http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/BAS/32nd-annual-2002/id62110421.cfm. A replay
will be available through Friday, October 11, 2002 at 5:00 PM PDT.


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>