Tagged: Panera

The concept of "pay what you want" for goods and services is a nostalgic throwback to the days when people trusted one another just a little bit more, and it's something you expect to see at the occasional farm stand or at a hip, independent coffee shop.

Panera Bread plans to add two more pay-what-you-want cafes later this year, part of the company's effort to help feed the hungry in a dignified way.

Panera spokeswoman Kate Antonacci said Thursday that the specific locations won't be announced until spring.

One could open by summer, the other in the fall. A third site is also being considered for later this year.

The St. Louis restaurant company Panera says its experiment to open several "pay-what-you-want nonprofit restaurants" has been a huge success.

Customers at these special facilities order like normal, but the cashiers simply suggest payment amounts - what customers actually put into the donation box is up to them.

Panera founder and chairman Ronald Shaich says nearly 80 percent of customers pay the full prices or more.