One of the most popular sandwiches and coffees in the UK and New York City is coming to California in droves.
Pret a Manger, commonly referred to simply as “Pret” in London, announced this week that it has partnered with a company called Dallas Holdings to open 40 new stores, primarily in Southern California, and an additional location in New York, where the chain already has a significant presence.
There is currently only one Pret in California, in the international terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.
Named with a twist on the French fashion term “pret-a-porter” or “prêt-à-porter”, the chain opened in 1980s London and quickly became a staple for a quick and healthy lunch in England – and eventually France, Germany, Hong Kong and more. The business specializes in thin sandwiches, salads, soups and organic coffee, and currently has 434 stores in the UK.
The company claims to donate the vast majority of unsold food every day to charities, shelters and food banks through the Pret Foundation. In the United States, the company says it donates 500,000 food items to food shelters every year, much of it at its 44 locations in New York City.
After losing a third of its UK workforce at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the company says it is now seeing sales comparable to pre-COVID-19 levels.
“We are very excited to expand into California next year with the help of Dallas Holdings,” said Jorrie Bruffett, president of Pret A Manger North America, in a statement. “We have seen steady growth week over week as customers and businesses continue to return to the office. This change has helped our recovery efforts and even our coffee orders have now exceeded pre-pandemic levels. We believe now is a good time to identify new partners to help us enter new markets where we know there is demand for Pret.
Few details were shared on exactly where Californians might see the sandwich shops appear for the first time, but Los Angeles and Orange County were mentioned as “strong initial locations” in the release. The deal calls for at least 40 units to be developed over “several years” in California, reports Dive at the restaurant.
SFGATE has contacted the company about any plans to open in the Bay Area, but had not heard back as of press time.
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