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 24, 2002 PANERA BREAD COMPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) DELAWARE 000-19253 04-2723701 (State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer of Incorporation) Identification No.) 6710 CLAYTON ROAD 63117 RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MO (Zip Code) (Address of principal executive offices) 314-633-7100 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) NOT APPLICABLE (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure. In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the following information shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Panera Bread Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise this information. Attached as Exhibit 99.1, and incorporated herein by reference, is a copy of the registrant's press release dated October 24, 2002, announcing its comparable store sales for the four and twelve weeks ended October 5, 2002. Attached and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the press release. SIGNATURE 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/ William W. Moreton ----------------------------------- Name: William W. Moreton Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Date: October 24, 2002 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Exhibit 99.1 Panera Press Release, dated October 24, 2002.