A Panera Bread shop displays a sign they are open amid the coronavirus pandemic on April 5, 2020 in New York City.

Panera Bread is selling groceries as housebound consumers eat fewer meals from restaurants.

Customers are able to order breads, bagels, milk, yogurt, cream cheese and fresh produce as part of an initiative that began Monday.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many restaurants to shutter their dining rooms temporarily. Restaurant transactions plunged 42% during the week ended March 29 compared with a year ago, according to the NPD Group.

Panera CEO Niren Chaudhary said the chain lost half its business once its dining rooms closed.

The grocery initiative was devised two weeks ago as a way to address consumers' needs for groceries and to help Panera's sales. As U.S. consumers try to limit their exposure to the virus, grocery sales have surged 73% from last year, Black Box Intelligence found. E-commerce grocers are struggling to address the skyrocketing demand.