Business 12th Edition by William Pride,Robert Hughes,Jack Kapoor

Exercise 2

Panera Cares is very much like every other Panera bakery- café, offering the same seasonal menu, the same fresh-baked bread, and the same comfortable ambiance. At Panera Cares, however, customers pay what they can afford. A mother with a toddler in tow may donate $5 for a pastry while a homeless person pays nothing for the same type of pastry. It's Panera's way of doing something for local communities, and it's starting to catch on.
Panera Cares must receive 80 percent of the suggested funding level to continue as a viable venture. Some of the cafés consistently achieve that level, while others fall short on some days. As word spreads and more customers understand what Panera is trying to achieve, the cafés are building a loyal and generous following. "The lesson here is that most people are fundamentally good," notes Panera's founder. "People step up and they do the right thing."
Questions
What ethical issues are raised by the idea of expecting some people to pay more for a Panera meal so that others can pay less?