{{short description|British multinational sandwich shop chain}} {{Use British English|date=November 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox company | logo = PretLogo.svg | type = Private | industry = Fast casual restaurant | area_served = 19 countries and regions | key_people = Pano Christou (CEO)<ref>{{cite web |title=CLIVE SCHLEE TO RETIRE AS PRET CEO; PANO CHRISTOU APPOINTED SUCCESSOR |url=https://www.pret.co.uk/en-gb/clive-schlee-to-retire-as-pret-ceo |website=www.pret.co.uk |language=en-gb}}</ref><br> José Cil (Chairman) | products = Sandwich, salads, soups, coffees and snacks | services = | revenue = {{Increase}} £790.1 Million (2022)<ref name="Pret Holding 1 Ltd Full Accounts 2022 Companies House">{{cite web |title=PRET HOLDING 1 LTD full accounts 2022|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/11415952/filing-history/MzM4Njc3MDYwN2FkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0|access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref> | operating_income = {{Increase}} £52.1 Million (2022)<ref name="Pret Holding 1 Ltd Full Accounts 2022 Companies House" /> | owner = JAB Holding Company | foundation = {{Nowrap|{{Start date and age|df=yes|1983|10|21}}}} | founder = Jeffrey Hyman | location_city = London | location_country = England | locations = 697 (as of April 2024) | num_employees = 12,000 (2018)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/may/29/pret-a-manger-sold-jab-holdings-krispy-kreme-sandwich-shop|title=All 12,000 Pret a Manger staff to get £1,000 each as chain is sold for £1.5bn|last1=Partington|first1=Richard|last2=Butler|first2=Sarah|last3=Neate|first3=Rupert|work=The Guardian|language=en|date=May 29, 2018|access-date=December 31, 2020}}</ref> | homepage = {{URL|pret.co.uk/en-GB}} }} thumb| thumb|The exterior of a Pret a Manger store in London in 2013 '''Pret a Manger''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|r|ɛ|t|_|ə|_|ˈ|m|ɒ̃|ʒ|eɪ}}; French for "ready to eat") is a British multinational sandwich shop chain founded in London, England in 1983. It is popularly referred to simply as '''Pret'''.<ref name="bw">{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=685362|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628061731/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=685362|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 June 2010|title=Company Overview of Pret a Manger Europe Ltd|website=Bloomberg Businessweek|access-date=23 March 2017}}</ref> As of September 2025, Pret had 717 locations across 19 countries and territories, including 474 in the UK (369 of which were in London)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Search |first=Pret A Manger |date=5 January 2025 |title=Find Your Nearest Pret |url=https://www.pret.co.uk/en-GB/shop-finder}}</ref> and 67 in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Search |first=Pret A Manger |date=5 January 2025 |title=Find-a-Pret |url=https://pret.com/en-US/shop-finder}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-08 |title=Pret A Manger plans stock market float and meal deal trials |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/economics/article/pret-a-manger-plans-stock-market-float-and-meal-deal-trials-dfqf9zwhh |access-date=2025-09-09 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref> Pret a Manger has additional locations in Belgium, Canada, France, UAE, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, South Africa and Switzerland.
== History == ===First restaurant=== Jeffrey Hyman<ref>{{Cite news |url= http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/people/people-news/prt-manger-founder-jeffrey-hyman-dies-at-67/547632.article |title=Prêt à Manger founder Jeffrey Hyman dies at 67 |work=The Grocer |last=Leyland |first=Adam |date=26 January 2017 |access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref> founded the first Pret a Manger in London on 21 October 1983.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/economy/2018/10/trouble-happy-factory-pret-manger-faces-its-biggest-crisis-yet |work=New Statesman |last=Kakum |first=Arun |title=Trouble in the happy factory: Pret a Manger faces its biggest crisis yet |date=11 October 2018 |access-date=16 October 2019}}</ref> The first shop opened in Hampstead, Camden, in 1984.<ref>Company Number 1763373, Pret a Manger Shareholders included Robin Wight and Andrew Garner, both directors of advertising agency WCRS; James Pilditch; Monty White; singer Lynsey de Paul; Jeffrey Hyman; and Valerie Hyman.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fdin.org.uk/2012/04/pret-a-manger-grows-through-continuous-innovation/|title=The Food & Drink Innovation Network|publisher=The FDIN|access-date=18 April 2012|archive-date=14 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414123712/http://www.fdin.org.uk/2012/04/pret-a-manger-grows-through-continuous-innovation/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The name {{Langx|fr|Prêt à Manger|label=none}} was originally based on {{Langx|fr|prêt-à-porter|label=none}}, French for "ready-to-wear clothing".
Beginning in June 1983, the company traded at 58 Hampstead High Street for 18 months,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duedil.com/company/gb/01763373/pret-a-manger-hampstead-limited|title=Pret a Manger (Hampstead) Limited. Business summary taken from official UK Companies House information. Registered Company Number 01763373|author=DueDil|date=26 February 2019|work=Company Check|access-date=26 February 2019}}</ref> during which time takings fell below the point of breaking-even, forcing the company into liquidation. Both the name and visual branding were purchased from liquidator David Rubin by two university friends,<ref>{{cite web |title=About our company |url=http://www.pret.com/about |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129062431/http://www.pret.com/about |archive-date=29 January 2012 |publisher=Pret a Manger}}</ref> Sinclair Beecham and Julian Metcalfe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://startups.co.uk/pret-a-manger-julian-metcalfe-and-sinclair-beecham/|title=Pret a Manger: Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair Beecham|author=The Startups Team|date=18 March 2003|access-date = 16 October 2019}}</ref>
===1986 onwards=== Beecham and Metcalfe started a new operation, using the Pret a Manger name purchased from the closed-down restaurant's liquidator for £100.<ref>{{BBC programme | id=m002gcwj | description=The Bottom Line }}</ref> They opened their first Pret a Manger in July 1986, located at 75b Victoria Street in London. They developed the chain's menu of handmade natural food, prepared in shop kitchens, and remained significant shareholders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pret.co.uk/en-gb/about-pret|title=Organic Coffee, Natural Food|website=Pret.co.uk|language=en-US|access-date=9 February 2017}} {{Failed verification|date=July 2022}}</ref>
In 1995, Metcalfe and Beecham set up The Pret Foundation, to help alleviate poverty in the UK.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pret.co.uk/en-gb/about-pret|title=About Pret|website=Pret.co.uk|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511214522/http://www.pret.co.uk/en-gb/about-pret|archive-date=2015-05-11|url-status=dead|access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref> The Pret Foundation received donations from collection boxes in shops, funding a fleet of electric vans that deliver unsold food to homeless shelters at the end of each day, including FareShare, The Felix Project and City Harvest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pret.co.uk/en-gb/pret-charity-run|title=Pret Charity Run|website=Pret.co.uk|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502162702/http://www.pret.co.uk/en-gb/pret-charity-run|archive-date=2015-05-02|url-status=dead|access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref> The Pret Foundation has awarded over £7 million to over 100 charities across the UK, tackling homelessness, hunger and poverty. [[File:A_Pret_a_Manger_sandwich_shop_at_30th_Street_Station_in_Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania_02.jpg|thumb|The interior of a Pret a Manger at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia]] The first shop outside London was opened on Broad Street, New York, in 2000,<ref name=":0" /> and by 2016, there were 74 Pret shops across the United States.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pret.co.uk/en-gb/financial-results-2016|title=Financial Results 2016|website=Pret.co.uk|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429005417/http://www.pret.co.uk/en%2Dgb/financial%2Dresults%2D2016|archive-date=2017-04-29|url-status=dead|access-date=10 August 2017}}</ref> In 2001, McDonald's bought a 33% non-controlling stake in the company,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/food/Story/0,2763,431757,00.html |title=Mine's a McLatte |work=The Guardian |date= 31 January 2001|access-date=25 February 2010 | location=London}}</ref> which they sold in 2008 to the private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/785895/McDonalds-offloads-Pret-stake-Bridgepoint/ |title=McDonald's offloads Pret stake to Bridgepoint |publisher= Brand Republic News |access-date=25 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sibun |first=Jonathan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2784918/Pret-a-Manger-to-be-sold-to-private-equity.html |title=Pret a Manger to be sold to private equity |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=23 February 2008 |access-date=25 February 2010 | location=London}}</ref>
In 2008, Pret a Manger's charitable foundation, The Pret Foundation, launched its "Rising Stars" programme, which supports people at risk of homelessness, including former prisoners and refugees, with sustainable employment in Pret shops, training, free travel, gift-cards to buy new clothes and peer-to-peer weekly support groups. As of 2022, over 600 people have joined Rising Stars, with 80% completing the 12-week programme. Some "Rising Stars" have gone on to become shop managers, or have been recruited to Pret's head office in London, known as "75B". 50p from every sandwich on its Christmas menu, 50p from Pret's "Hog Roast Mac n Cheese" and 10p from every soup goes to The Pret Foundation.
Pret a Manger opened its first shop in France in 2012<ref name=":0" /> and had 51 shops in France by 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pret a Manger |url=https://www.pretamanger.fr/fr-FR/shop-finder/l |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=www.pretamanger.fr}}</ref>
In June 2016, after running an online poll,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lackey |first=Dionne |date=2016-04-29 |title=Pret shows how customer insight can shape what your brand does next |url=https://www.sentiment.io/pret-shows-how-customer-insight-can-shape-what-your-brand-does-next/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Sentiment Omnichannel Customer Service Platform |language=en-US}}</ref> Pret a Manger opened a vegan and vegetarian branch in Soho, London, under a new brand name, Veggie Pret, changing its Twitter page for the launch from burgundy to green.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Ben |date=2016-06-16 |title=Eight ways Veggie Pret innovated pop-up retail strategy |url=https://econsultancy.com/eight-ways-veggie-pret-innovated-pop-up-retail-strategy/ |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=Econsultancy |language=en}}</ref> "We opened our Veggie Pret pop up as an experiment," Pret's group chief executive at the time Clive Schlee wrote in a blog post,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Veggie Pret Is Growing |publisher=Pret a Manger |url=https://www.pret.co.uk/en-GB/veggie-pret-is-growing |access-date=2022-10-26 |website=www.pret.co.uk}}</ref> "never imagining it would be around for more than a month. We ended up making it permanent..."
In 2016, Pret's group sales were £776 million.<ref name=":1" /> In April 2017, the company opened its second Veggie Pret in Shoreditch, East London.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-03-28 |title=Pret a Manger is opening a vegetarian-only shop |language=en |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/pret-manger-vegetarian-only-restaurant-shoreditch-london-a7653876.html |access-date=2020-09-14}}</ref> In September 2018, JAB Holding Company acquired Pret a Manger from Bridgepoint.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pret a Manger staff to get £1,000 bonus after takeover|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44287454|access-date=29 May 2018|work=BBC News|date=29 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=JAB to Acquire Majority Stake in Pret a Manger|url=https://www.jabholco.com/content/3-press-releases/press-release-pret-a-manger-acquisition.pdf|publisher=JAB Holding Company|access-date=29 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/business/these-new-owners-of-pret-a-manger-have-really-started-ringing-the-changes-1-9377884|title=These new owners of Pret a Manger have really started ringing the changes|work=Yorkshire Evening Post|date=3 October 2018|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> In May 2019, Pret bought rival chain Eat for an undisclosed sum, originally planning to convert many branches into Veggie Pret shops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/23/sandwich-chain-eat-closes-permanently-after-24-years|title = Sandwich chain Eat closes permanently after 24 years| website=The Guardian |date = 23 March 2020}}</ref>
On 27 August 2020, during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in the UK, the company announced that it would cut 2,890 jobs<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/47ee3232-d1dc-48b0-b377-a80e1e8cae3b|title= Pret a Manger slashes third of its workforce |last1=Evans|first1=Judith|last2=Hancock|first2=Alice|work=Financial Times|date=27 August 2020|access-date=28 August 2020}}</ref> from its UK workforce (more than a third of the current employees). The primary reason given was a severe downturn in trade. Most jobs would be lost from shops, with 90 roles lost in the company support centre.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pret a Manger to cut 3,000 jobs in the UK|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53939526|access-date=28 Aug 2020|work=BBC News|date=27 Aug 2020}}</ref>
In April 2022, the company announced plans to enter the Irish market, opening 20 outlets and creating 500 jobs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quann |first=Jack |title=Pret A Manger to create 500 jobs, open 20 shops around Ireland |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/pret-a-manger-coffee-chain-to-create-500-jobs-open-20-shops-around-ireland-1330722 |access-date=2022-04-11 |website=Newstalk |language=en}}</ref> In April 2023, Pret a Manger opened its first outlet in India in partnership with Reliance Industries.<ref>{{Cite news |title=UK sandwich chain Pret a Manger launches in India |work=BBC News |date=21 April 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65344663 |access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref> In May 2023 the first location in Italy was also opened at Milan Malpensa Airport. In August 2023, Pret a Manger was fined £800,000 for a health and safety offence after an employee was trapped in a walk-in freezer for more than two hours.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gupta |first1=Tanya |title=Pret a Manger fined over London worker stuck in freezer|date=30 August 2023 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66663556 |website=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |access-date=31 August 2023}}</ref>
In February 2024, Pret announced that it was abandoning its vegetarian-only stores and would be converting its final three Veggie Pret outlets to normal Prets by the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68225821|title=Pret A Manger is converting last few all-veggie outlets|website=BBC News |date=7 February 2024|access-date=9 February 2024}}</ref> Later the same month, Pret revealed that it would be cutting the prices of its best-selling sandwiches following accusations of profiteering. Officials at the chain blamed the price increases on rising energy bills and the cost of labour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/02/16/pret-lowers-prices-of-best-selling-sandwiches-profiteering/|title=Pret cuts prices of best-selling sandwiches after profiteering accusations|website=The Telegraph |date=16 February 2024|access-date=16 February 2024}}</ref> In 2024, Pret announced major changes to its popular Club Pret subscription service which they had launched in 2021. Where previously Pret had been providing the service at a cost of £30 per month to the customer for a maximum of five hot drinks per day included in addition to a 20% discount on menu items, they announced the subscription cost would be reduced to £10 with the included drink benefit replaced by a 50% discount on drinks, and a total removal of the discount on menu items,<ref>{{cite web |title=A Message from Clare |url=https://www.pret.co.uk/en-GB/a-message-from-clare |website=Pret |publisher=Pret a Manger |access-date=14 August 2024}}</ref> a move which was met by strong criticism by customers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Race |first1=Michael |last2=Edser |first2=Nick |title=Backlash after Pret changes coffee subscription deal |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnd09en33pro |access-date=14 August 2024 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=18 July 2024}}</ref>
In September 2024, Pret began selling their coffee at A&W restaurants across Canada, which came after a successful pop-up trial run started in 2022 at locations in Toronto and Vancouver.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://awincomefund.mediaroom.com/2024-09-23-The-Iconic-Pret-A-Manger-coffee-is-now-available-at-A-W-restaurants-nationwide|title=The Iconic Pret A Manger coffee is now available at A&W restaurants nationwide|website=www.awinvestors.ca|date=23 September 2024}}</ref>
In May 2025, Pret announced the appointment of José Cil as its chairman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haddon |first=Heather |title=Exclusive {{!}} Former Burger King Boss Picked to Oversee Panera, Pret a Manger |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/hospitality/former-burger-king-boss-picked-to-oversee-panera-pret-a-manger-abbfd1b8 |access-date=2025-09-09 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
In June 2025, JAB Holding, the owners of Pret, announced that they had engaged advisors to explore options for a potential sale or stock market float.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Amber |date=2025-06-06 |title=Pret owners in discussions for IPO or possible sale |url=https://www.cityam.com/pret-owners-in-discussions-for-ipo-or-possible-sale/ |access-date=2025-06-06 |website=City AM |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Corporate affairs== ===Organisation=== In 1998, the company employed 1,400 people, of whom 19% were from the UK and 60% were from other European Union member states, mainly in Eastern Europe. Pret a Manger employs 1 in every 14 applicants. Applicants go on a one-day experience day at a shop and their success is determined by votes from the staff members. Many managers and senior executives have come from within the company.<ref>''The Economist'': Employment: ''A new mix'' - In London, almost one in every nine workers is a foreign citizen. 24 September 1998</ref>
The organisational structure of Pret a Manger is divided between its stores and the main offices. The London head office is the hub for the UK stores, while the office in New York City is the hub for the American stores.<ref name="pret.com">{{cite web|url=http://pret.com/jobs |title=Good jobs | Pret A Manger |publisher=Pret.com |access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> Each store contains levels of positions that range from team member to general manager of the store.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/9129410/Smiley-culture-Pret-A-Mangers-secret-ingredients.html |title=Smiley culture: Pret a Manger's secret ingredients |work=The Telegraph|date=9 March 2012 |access-date=5 September 2015|first1=Richard|last1=Preston}}</ref> Above the in-store manager is the operations manager who is in charge of a group of roughly 10 stores, and above that are more senior management positions based out of the offices that are tasked with coordinating a region and maintaining communication with the company's CEO in London.<ref name="pret.com" /> All office employees are paired with a "buddy shop" where they work at least two days a year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pret.com/jobs/office.htm |title=Organic Coffee, Natural Food | Pret A Manger |publisher=Pret.com |access-date=5 September 2015 |archive-date=10 October 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010203139/http://www.pret.com/jobs/office.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>
While the uppermost levels of management are located in the offices, not all the office jobs are above the store jobs in the organisational structure. Orders do not strictly flow from the head offices in a top-down manner; instead, the channel of communication between the executives and the stores is open in both directions.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news |first=Julia |last=Werdigier |title=Rallying the Team to Cater to the Company's Strengths |newspaper=The New York Times |date=9 May 2012 |access-date=15 October 2012 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/business/global/rallying-the-team-to-cater-to-the-companys-strengths.html?pagewanted=print}}</ref>
Pret a Manger promotes an internal culture as described in a leaflet entitled "Pret Behaviours". The behaviours break down traits into three categories: passion, clear talking and team working – and identify specific behaviours as "Don't want to see", "Want to see", and "Pret perfect!"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pret.com/jobs/pret_behaviours.htm|title=The Pret Behaviours|website=Pret.com|access-date=23 March 2017|archive-date=27 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527163434/http://www.pret.com/jobs/pret_behaviours.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The number of behaviours Pret hopes an employee exhibits increases with rank within the company: team members should practise around six behaviours, managers ten, and the company's executives all of them.<ref>{{cite web |first=Matt |last=Blumberg |title=Pret a Manger |work=Business Insider |date=16 May 2011 |access-date=24 September 2017 |url= http://www.businessinsider.com/pret-a-manager-2011-5}}</ref>
===Locations=== [[File:Pret-a-manger Edinburgh.JPG|thumb|Exterior view Pret a Manger, Edinburgh, Scotland]] [[File:Pret A Manger Storefront (48206543417).jpg|thumb|right|Exterior of a store in Chelsea, Manhattan, United States]] [[File:Pret,Victoria Place.jpg|thumb|Inside Pret a Manger, Victoria, London]] The company emphasises the use of natural ingredients and advertises that its sandwiches are made on the day of purchase in a kitchen at each location (with the stated exception of a few small outlets). Food left unsold at the end of the day is collected by charities. Sandwiches are packaged in paperboard rather than sealed plastic.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rapuk.com/client/pret/ |title=Sandwich Packaging | Pret a Manger Case Study | RAP |publisher=Rapuk.com |date=20 June 2014 |access-date=5 September 2015}}</ref> London is Pret's biggest market where 42% of its stores are located. There are 697 locations worldwide as of April 2024 in the following locations:
*United Kingdom: 512 (486 in England including 276 in London; 23 in Scotland; 1 in Wales; and 2 in Northern Ireland)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pret A Manger |url=https://www.pret.com/en-GB/shop-finder |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Store Locator {{!}} Pret Ireland |url=https://www.pret.com/en-IE/find-a-pret |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-IE}}</ref> *United States (as of March 2026): 68 (60 on the East Coast; 4 in Chicago; and 3 in Los Angeles)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pret A Manger |url=https://www.pret.com/en-US/shop-finder |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=www.pret.com}}</ref> *France: 55<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pret A Manger |url=https://www.pretamanger.fr/fr-FR/shop-finder |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pretamanger.fr}}</ref> *Switzerland: 8<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find A Pret {{!}} Pret Switzerland |url=https://www.pret.com/en-CH/find-a-pret |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-CH}}</ref> *Canada: 2<ref>{{Cite web |title=Store Locator {{!}} Pret Canada |url=https://www.pret.com/en-CA/find-a-pret |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-CA}}</ref> *Hong Kong: 25<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pret A Manger |url=https://www.pret.hk/en-HK/find-a-pret |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref> *India: 19<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pret Store Finder {{!}} Pret A Manger India |url=https://pretamanger.in/c/store-locator |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Pret A Manger {{!}} India |language=en}}</ref> *Ireland: 4<ref name=":3" /> *United Arab Emirates: 8<ref>{{Cite web |title=Store Locator {{!}} Pret UAE |url=https://www.pret.com/en-AE/find-a-pret |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-AE}}</ref> *Belgium: 2<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Nous Trouver {{!}} Pret Belux |url=https://www.pret.com/fr-BE/trouver-un-pret |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com |language=fr-BE}}</ref> *Germany: 5<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a Pret {{!}} Pret Germany |url=https://www.pret.com/en-DE/find-a-pret |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-DE}}</ref> *Kuwait: 7<ref>{{Cite web |title=Store Locator {{!}} Pret Kuwait |url=https://www.pret.com/en-KW/find-a-pret |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-KW}}</ref> *Italy: 5<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find a Pret {{!}} Pret Italy |url=https://www.pret.com/en-IT/find-a-pret |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-IT}}</ref> *Luxembourg: 1<ref name=":4" /> *Singapore: 2<ref>{{Cite web |title=Store Locator {{!}} Pret Singapore |url=https://www.pret.com/en-SG/find-a-pret |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-SG}}</ref> *Greece: 6<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find A Pret {{!}} Pret Greece |url=https://www.pret.com/en-GR/find-a-pret |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-GR}}</ref> *Portugal: 1<ref>{{Cite web |title=Find A Pret {{!}} Pret Portugal |url= https://www.pret.com/en-PT/find-a-pret |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-PT}}</ref> *Saudi Arabia: 8<ref>{{Cite web |title=Store Locator {{!}} Pret Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.pret.com/en-SA/find-a-pret|access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.pret.com |language=en-}}</ref>
==Controversies== ===Affective labour issues=== Pret a Manger has been cited as being particularly vigorous in extracting affective labour from its employees.<ref name="LRB">{{cite journal |url=http://www.lrb.co.uk/v35/n01/paul-myerscough/short-cuts |title=Short Cuts |first=Paul |last=Myerscough |date=3 January 2013 |journal=London Review of Books |volume=35 |issue=1 |access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> Affective labour (or emotional labour)<ref name="TRB">{{cite magazine |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/112204/pret-manger-when-corporations-enforce-happiness# |title=Labor of Love: The enforced happiness of Pret A Manger |first=Timothy |last=Noah |date=1 February 2013 |magazine=The New Republic |access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> is work which involves manipulating a person's emotional state.
Pret a Manger uses mystery shoppers to ensure that employees deploy markers of a positive emotional state.<ref name=LRB/><ref name=NYT/> Employees who exhibit markers of latent sadness face consequences such as not having a bonus.<ref name=LRB/><ref name=NYT/> This has led to some criticism of the company for over-reaching<ref name=LRB/><ref name=TRB/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/02/02/prete_a_manger_enforced_happiness.html |title=Caring Is Creepy (When Enforced By Others) |first=Matthew |last=Yglesias |date=2 February 2013 |website=Slate |access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> while drawing praise from some commentators and other business owners for its business practices.<ref name="NYT">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/business/pret-a-manger-with-new-fast-food-ideas-gains-a-foothold-in-united-states.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |url-access=subscription |title=Would You Like a Smile With That? |first=Stephanie |last=Clifford |date=6 August 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://operationsroom.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/pret-a-manger-a-different-way-of-managing-fast-food-workers/ |title=Pret a Manger: A different way of managing fast food workers |first=Marty |last=Lariviere |date=11 August 2011 |work=The Operations Room |publisher=Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University) |access-date=4 February 2013}}</ref> ===Staff union=== In response to labour problems within the company, the Pret a Manger Staff Union was established in 2012 as an independent union with its principal demand being made around calls for a living wage.<ref name="Cached Page">{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.pamsu.org/contact-us/|work=Pret a Manager Staff Union|access-date=21 November 2013|archive-date=18 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818143525/http://www.pamsu.org/contact-us/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Andrej Stopa, the founder of the union, was later sacked from his Pret branch.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pret fires longstanding employee who attempted to unionise, asked for the London Living Wage for all employees|url=http://boingboing.net/2012/12/08/pret-fires-longstanding-employ.html|work=Boing Boing|date=8 December 2012 |access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref>
===Failure to list ingredients on packaging=== In late 2015, a 17-year-old girl collapsed and needed emergency medical care after a "life-threatening" reaction to sesame, which was present in a Pret product despite an absence of suitable allergen labelling on the packaging. The girl's mother, a doctor, contacted Pret a Manger and was told the allergen was not mentioned on the product, so she cautioned them that "other serious adverse incidents could easily occur".<ref name="Guardian 25 Sept 2018" /> A woman almost died following a reaction to a baguette in October 2015. Despite the patient's family warning Pret a Manger, the firm did not label products with allergy information.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-45637711 Pret inquest: Baguette allergy alerts before girl's death] ''BBC News''</ref>
In July 2016, 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died from an allergic reaction to sesame after eating a Pret sandwich, the packaging of which did not list sesame as an ingredient, but which nevertheless contained some.<ref name="guardian-2018-09-26">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/26/coroner-teen-natasha-ednan-laperouse-allergy-inquest-concerns-food-pret-a-manger-labelling-rules|title=Pret a Manger: coroner in teen allergy inquest troubled by packaging rules|first=Haroon|last=Siddique|date=26 September 2018|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-45623831 Pret baguette inquest: Plea for help after allergic reaction] ''BBC News''</ref> Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, the girl's father, said, "When my mother called and told me that the baguette contained sesame, I was taken aback ... I was completely horrified. It was their fault ... I was stunned that a big food company like Pret could mislabel a sandwich and this could cause my daughter to die." The lawyer for the family said a photograph, taken at the store eight days after the girl's death, indicated no sticker warning concerning allergens was on the packages.<ref name= "Guardian 24 Sept 2018">{{cite news| first=Haroon| last= Siddique| url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/24/father-of-girl-who-died-of-allergy-on-plane-blames-pret-a-manger |title= Father of girl who died of allergy on plane blames Pret a Manger|work= The Guardian|access-date= 28 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="Guardian 25 Sept 2018">{{cite news |last= Davies |first= Caroline| title= Pret a Manger 'had nine similar allergic reactions in year before girl died'|url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/sep/25/pret-a-manger-allergic-reactions-year-before-natasha-ednan-laperouse-died-inquest-told | date= 25 September 2018|newspaper= The Guardian |location=London| access-date=28 September 2018}}</ref> The coroner said the labelling was inadequate.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45679320 Pret inquest: Allergy labelling ‘inadequate’ in baguette death] ''BBC News''</ref>
In 2017, 42-year-old Celia Marsh died from an allergic reaction to Pret a Manger products. A product, claimed by Pret to be dairy-free, contained traces of dairy. Pret a Manger blamed a supplier.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45774709 Pret a Manger confirms second allergy death] ''BBC News''</ref> The supplier, CoYo, disputed the allegation<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/07/second-pret-customer-died-after-allergic-reaction-to-sandwich|title=Second Pret customer died after allergic reaction to sandwich|first=Alexandra|last=Topping|date=7 October 2018|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref> and maintains Pret a Manger hampered its investigations by refusing to reveal the batch number of the affected product.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/08/pret-a-manger-second-person-to-die-after-allergic-reaction-named-as-celia-marsh|title=Family of second Pret a Manger allergy victim call for answers|last1=Morris|first1=Steven|last2=Mohdin|first2=Aamna|date=8 October 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=27 May 2020}}</ref>
=== Customer complaints over the coffee subscription === In December 2021, the BBC reported that Pret customers complained over the drinks subscription deal with 5000 complaints logged, leading the Advertising Standards Authority to get involved.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-12-20 |title=Pret A Manger customers complain over drinks subscription deal |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59634846 |access-date=2023-11-26}}</ref>
=== Fine of £800,000 === In August 2023, City of Westminster, London fined Pret £800,000 after a café worker was left locked in a walk-in freezer. "The District Judge decided on a starting point of £1.6 million, which was reduced to £800,000 following credit for an early guilty plea and mitigation advanced on behalf of the company."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pret a Manger fined £800,000 after café worker left locked in walk-in freezer. {{!}} Westminster City Council |url=https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/pret-manger-fined-ps800000-after-cafe-worker-left-locked-walk-freezer |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.westminster.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Weaver |first=Matthew |date=2023-08-30 |title=Pret a Manger fined £800,000 after employee trapped in freezer |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/30/pret-a-manger-fined-800000-after-employee-trapped-in-freezer |access-date=2023-11-26 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
=== Stores in Israel === In June 2024, Pret cancelled plans to open 40 stores in Israel with Pret blaming travel restrictions on UK staff as a result of the Gaza war.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ellichipuram |first=Umesh |date=2024-06-04 |title=Pret A Manger halts Israel expansion plans |url=https://www.verdictfoodservice.com/news/pret-a-manger-israel/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Verdict Food Service |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category inline|Pret A Manger}} *{{Official website|www.pret.co.uk|pret.co.uk}} *[http://www.pret.com/ pret.com]
{{Restaurants in London}} {{UK Food}} {{Portal bar|Companies|Food|London}}
Category:1986 establishments in England Category:British companies established in 1986 Category:Restaurants established in 1986 Category:British brands Category:Coffeehouses and cafés in the United Kingdom Category:Fast casual restaurants Category:Fast-food chains of the United Kingdom Category:Fast-food franchises Category:Sandwich restaurants Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies Category:Restaurants in London