PITTSBURGH, PA--(Marketwired - Nov 11, 2014) - On Tuesday, November 11, Panera Bread will salute those in uniform with free meals at all of their 30 participating Pittsburgh Panera Bread bakery-cafes. All veterans and military service members will receive a free You-Pick-Two by wearing his or her uniform or showing Military I.D. or discharge papers.
"We continually work to show our customers and our community members that we appreciate them -- especially to those who have made sacrifices for our country," said Sam Covelli, Owner and Operator of Covelli Enterprises. "We hope this small gesture of gratitude will let these men and women know how thankful we are for their service."
Additionally, Panera Bread bakery-cafes in Pittsburgh will be donating funds to Operation Troop Appreciation in the month of November through the Operation Dough-Nation program which collects spare change from guests in canisters at the café registers. Guests will also be encouraged to add $1.00 to their check when ordering during the week of November 10th- 16th in support of the charity. Operation Troop Appreciation works with military units to provide "wish list" items specifically requested by the troops in the field. These "wish list" items are intended to help ease the burden of deployment and are presented to the troops as symbols of our appreciation, support, and encouragement.
"We are so grateful to have the support of Panera Bread. OTA will be able to provide much needed supplies that boost morale and aid in the well-being of our troops overseas and gifts to veterans that say 'Thank You' and 'Welcome Home' in a tangible way. With their support, we can make a significant positive impact on their lives," said Monica Orluk, President & COO, Operation Troop Appreciation.
Free meals for veterans and service members has been an annual tradition at the Covelli-owned Panera Bread cafes since 2011. Since then, the company has given away more than 30,000 You-Pick-Twos to military personnel and veterans. The complimentary You-Pick-Two meal will be honored all day on Veterans Day and encompasses a combination of any two of the following items: cup of soup, one flatbread, half sandwich, half pasta, or half salad. For a list of participating Panera Bread bakery-cafes, visit www.paneracovelli.com/panerahonors.
Covelli Enterprises continues to believe that community involvement is the backbone of their business. In 2013, the company donated more than $19 million dollars to charity.
About Covelli Enterprises Covelli Enterprises owns and operates 260 bakery-cafés in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Canada, and Florida. Covelli Enterprises is the largest franchisee of Panera, LLC. www.paneracovelli.com
Contact Information:
Contact:
Bernadette Santucci
Covelli Enterprises, LLC
Panera Bread Franchisee
724.288.2785