Pret A Manger

Pret a Manger is a restaurant chain which was founded in the UK in 1986. The company now counts over 700 restaurants throughout the world. Pret a Manger is owned by JAB Holding.

The business is known for its array of healthy food and drinks and excellent service. All meals are prepared in each restaurant, guaranteeing their freshness. The chain is constantly updating their menu to include new dishes based on customers’ demand and feedback.

The company serves over 30000 customers and achieved a turnover of € 787 million in 2018. Pret a Manger employs a total of 11 700 people and 8581 people in the UK. The firm operates its own shops but also partnered with other businesses to launch franchised shops.

In 2000, Pret a Manger launched in the US and in 2002, stores launched in Hong Kong. The company opened its first restaurant in France in 2012 and entered the Chinese market in 2014. In 2016, it launched in Dubai as well. Some of the restaurants are located in travel ports. 

2016 was also about innovation. The company became the first restaurant chain to launch a vegetarian and vegan only shop which operates under the name Veggie Pret. Initially based in London, the concept became so popular and there are now plans to open new stores in the US.

Pret a Manger acquired the chain Eat and in May 2019, announced that it would convert Eat’s stores into Veggie Pret shops by 2021. The company first plans to give Veggie Pret a completely different ambience than Pret a Manger by developing new dishes and redesigning the menu but also by recruiting more vegetarian chefs.

Pret a Manger does its best to provide an excellent service and invests in its employees. In fact, the firm has its own training centre, the Pret Academy where employees are efficiently trained and acquire the necessary skills to perform their jobs effectively. There are around 400 courses offered and they are recognised throughout the UK. The business also runs the Pret Apprenticeship programme which allows employees to work and follow courses. 

Pret a Manger also runs the Pret Charity Run which distributes unsold food to hostels, shelters and charities, thus helping the community and reducing wastage.