Panera reports positive earnings numbers

Comparable bakery-café sales increased 7.8 percent systemwide over the same period last year. Company-owned store sales were up 7.7 percent, while franchise store sales were up 7.9 percent.

The figures exclude locations that have closed and are based on sales for locations that have been in operation for at least 18 months.

The sales numbers are better than analysts had anticipated; Morgan Keegan analyst Bob Derrington expected an overall rise in sales of around 6.7 percent.

Year-to-date sales across the entire chain are up 7.9 percent over last year; franchised stores lead the way, with sales up 8 percent.

Panera Bread Co., which sells shares on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol PNRA, owns and franchises bakery-cafés under the Panera Bread and Saint Louis Bread Co. names. Shares of the company’s stock ended Sept. 23 at $52.25.

Panera Bread Co. also announced Sept. 22 that it has agreed to purchase 21 locations, plus two more under construction, in Indiana at a cost of $27.5 million. The deal is set to close Nov. 1.

The company has five Panera Bread locations in Springfield, all owned and operated by franchise group Traditional Bakery Inc.