Pret (sandwich shop)

Pret (sandwich shop)

Type	Private
Industry	Retail outlets
Founded	22 July 1986
Founder(s)	Sinclair Beecham and Julian Metcalfe
Headquarters	City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom 1 Hudson's Place, SW1V 1PZ
Number of locations	United Kingdom, United States of America, Hong Kong, France
Key people	Clive Schlee (CEO), Andrew Walker (UK Managing Director)
Products	Sandwiches, Salads, Sushi, Soups, Coffees and Snacks
Website	http://www.pret.com/

Inside Pret A Manger, Victoria Place, London

Pret a Manger is a British sandwich retail chain based in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. The name "Pret a Manger" comes from the French prêt à manger, meaning "ready to eat", a reference to prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear as distinct from "bespoke").

The company was founded in London in 1986 by college friends Sinclair Beecham and Julian Metcalfe (who later founded the Itsu chain of sushi cafes), the duo having met while studying property law at the Polytechnic of Central London. The two of them had little experience in the world of business. They created the sort of food they craved but could not find anywhere else, opening their first branch near Victoria Station, London.

In 2001, McDonald's bought a 33% non-controlling stake in the USA branch of the company, which they sold in 2008 to private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital, owners of clothing retailer Fat Face.

Mission Statement

"Pret creates handmade natural food avoiding the obscure chemicals, additives and preservatives common to so much of the 'prepared' and 'fast' food on the market today."

Menu

Exterior view Pret A Manger, Edinburgh, Scotland

The menu includes sandwiches, filled baguettes, soups, salads and coffee. Pret also prepares desserts, such as American muffins, cakes, and croissants.

The company's marketing claims a passion for food, and that all items are made from natural ingredients. The company says that all sandwiches are made on the day of purchase in a kitchen at each location (with the stated exception of a few, very small, outlets), and that those left unsold at the end of the day are collected by charities that provide food to the homeless. Sandwiches are packaged in paperboard rather than sealed plastic, to emphasize that they are fresh and should not be kept overnight.

Outlets

85% of their trade is in London, where around three-quarters of their stores are located. As of January 2012, there were 230 UK shops, 168 in London. Pret has expanded to New York (32 stores), Hong Kong (11 stores), Washington, D.C. (5 stores), and Chicago (3 stores). Unlike many other fast food outlets, Pret a Manger refuses to franchise.

In Hong Kong, there were 11 Pret a Manger outlets as of January 2012.

In New York, there were 32 Pret a Manger outlets as of January 2012.

In Chicago, there were 3 Pret a Manger outlets as of January 2012.

In Washington, D.C., the first Pret a Manger outlet opened on 20 January 2009 in time for the Presidential inauguration. Since then four additional stores have opened in DC.

In Paris, the first Pret A Manger outlet in France opened on 9th January 2012. The shop was opened in La Défense a major business district of the Paris aire urbaine.

Staff

Pret A Manger graphic scheme, London storefront

In 1998, the company employed 1,400 people, of whom 19% were from the UK and 60% were from other European Union countries, mainly in Eastern Europe. Pret A Manger employs one in every 14 applicants. Applicants go on a one-day experience day at a shop and their success is determined by the other staff members, who vote the applicant in or not. Many managers and senior executives have come from within the company.

External links

• Official website
• "Recipe for Reinvention". Fast Company
• "Would You Like a Smile With That?" New York Times article