Ordered delivery from Panera? You may be owed food, cash due to a $2 million settlement

Panera Bread has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a class action lawsuit that might result in free food or money for you.

The North American bakery-cafe chain has 21 locations in Iowa, according to its website, which means Iowans may be eligible to receive a settlement award.

Here’s how.

What is the lawsuit against Panera about?

The plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit said they paid more than expected for delivery orders from Panera, accusing the the sandwich and soup restaurant of misleading customers about both the cost of delivery fees and menu prices.

Panera denied any wrongdoing and settled to avoid further costs of defense, according to Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, which oversees the settlement.

Specifically, the lawsuit alleged that Panera would promise to provide either free or low-cost deliveries with a $1 or flat rate to customers who ordered through the company's mobile app or website. Instead, customers accused Panera of then loading on hidden fees, according to a lawsuit filed last year in Illinois.

Panera is alleged to have marked up food prices for delivery orders by 5% to 7%, the plaintiffs wrote. For example, a customer who ordered a sandwich through the mobile app may have been charged an extra $1 for delivery than if they were to pick it up in the store, the lawsuit states.

This extra fee was only displayed on the app or website after a customer chose delivery or pickup, the lawsuit alleged.

“This secret menu price markup was specifically designed to cover the costs of delivering food and profit on that delivery,” according to the lawsuit. “It was, in short, exclusively a charge for using Panera’s delivery service and was, therefore, a delivery charge.”

How can I file a Panera claim for a settlement award?

You may be eligible if you’ve placed an order for delivery on the Panera app or website between Oct. 1, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2021.

Download a claim form document and mail in it, postmarked by June 10, or file your claim online through deliverypricesettlement.com by midnight PST on June 10 (2 a.m. June 11 in Iowa).

You can choose to receive a soups & mac vouchers settlement award, which would grant you up to two vouchers for one free item from Panera’s soups & mac menu, according to the settlement administration. These vouchers are valued at $9.50 each. Or you can choose an electronic cash payment, which can be up to $12, according to the settlement administration.

How will I get my Panera settlement award?

You will either get your vouchers electronically or receive your cash payment electronically through platforms such as PayPal, Venmo and more, according to the settlement administration.

What's on the soups & mac menu at Panera?

Curious about what you could order if you end up opting for and receiving a voucher for a free item under this menu?

This menu includes soups such as turkey chili, homestyle chicken noodle soup, broccoli cheddar soup, macaroni and cheese and more, according to Panera's website.

Paris Barraza is a trending and general assignment reporter at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: How to file a claim for Panera Bread lawsuit and get free food, money