ST. LOUIS — Earlier this year, Panera Bread announced that it had expanded delivery to customers across the United States through the Panera app or web site. The next phase of the company’s delivery expansion is here, as it has officially launched breakfast delivery, starting with 231 cities and towns nationwide.

Ordered through the app or web site, Panera’s breakfast delivery offers a convenient alternative to waiting in line for food or coffee. A total of 381 cafes throughout the country initially will offer the service, including select cafes in Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, St. Louis and Minneapolis. Panera plans to offer the service in an additional 30 cafes by the end of 2018.

“Since we launched Panera delivery, guests have been asking ‘what about breakfast?’ We’re all looking for an easier way to get a better breakfast as we start our day,” said Blaine E. Hurst, chief executive officer of Panera. “Panera is uniquely suited to meet this need — the convenience of our digital properties and our great service provide a better experience for wholesome food, delivered any time of day.”

Panera also uses its own drivers to make deliveries, as opposed to using a third-party service like UberEats or Grubhub. Convenience and cost are key, as guests within an eight-minute drive time of participating cafes can order breakfast delivery for as little as a $5 menu purchase (excluding tax) plus a delivery fee. Panera hopes that delivery will impact its breakfast sales, as it has with other products.

“Delivery is fueling our next phase of growth, and the success we have seen so far is exciting,” Mr. Hurst said. “The combination of providing clean food options via an entirely digital experience is giving us a real advantage, and the momentum is just beginning.”