Panera Bread, a fast-casual chain known for its soups, salads and sandwiches, is closing its fresh dough facility in Jessup.

The Missouri-based company will lay off 118 employees between May 20 and 22, according to a Maryland Work Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed on Tuesday. The warehouse in Howard County produced dough that was used for bread, bagels and other items at restaurant locations.

At least 11 of Panera’s fresh dough facilities were shuttered in 2025 as the chain transitioned to an “on-demand bread-baking model,” according to Baking Business. Third-party bakers will use Panera recipes and ingredients to partially bake and freeze bread, then ship it to Panera locations.

“This new model helps us to have greater availability of the breads our guests love, ensuring quality while allowing us to expand innovation and variety,” the company told Baking Business.

Panera Bread has more than 50 restaurant locations in Maryland. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.