Pret ready to roll out to the regions

Pret is planning to open up to 200 stores after dividing the UK for conquest. The sandwich and coffee chain is looking to open about 100 of its own shops in the next three years, and is now in talks to open a further 100 as franchises. Pret, which is owned by German fund JAB Holdings, is in talks with possible partners about dividing the UK into franchised regions in a push to expand outside London. Pret UK managing director Clare Clough said it had been impressed by its strong performance in locations including Yorkshire, where it was trading at above pre-pandemic levels. Franchising, she said, would make Pret “a much more national player”. Pret will name five or so partners, which would each open up to 20 shops. In March, Pret appointed the former Starbucks UK franchising chief Jane Coleman to lead its expansion. The Times (£) The FT (£) The Guardian