Pret A Manger to trial stores within some Tesco branches

Pret A Manger is set to open stores in four Tesco shops

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Pret A Manger is set to introduce shops within a handful of Tesco stores, as it tests out ways to adapt to customers working from home.

The sandwich chain is among businesses that has been hit by a large drop in central London footfall during the pandemic.

It is now set to expand a partnership with Tesco as part of its plan to bring the brand to more people. Earlier this year Pret A Manger launched a supermarket range, with bake-at-home frozen croissants and granolas available in up to 700 Tesco stores and from the grocer’s website.

The latest expansion will see Pret A Manger open a concession in the Tesco superstore in Kensington next month. Three further shop openings are planned for later in the Summer.

The sites will offer a menu of freshly prepared food, coffee and teas.

Pano Christou, chief executive of Pret A Manger, said: “As the UK emerges from lockdown, this partnership with Tesco is one way in which we’re transforming our business model to adjust to a new way of living and working. We look forward to working with the Tesco team on this partnership.”

His firm added that sales from the range it is selling in supermarkets “have already exceeded targets”.

Other new ways of trying to boost sales the company has introduced, include offering deliveries via Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats.

The hospitality sector can offer takeaways and outdoor service, and indoor trade is set to resume from May 17.

A number of firms are anticipating high demand, however scores of office workers, potential customers, continue to do their jobs remotely. Lockdown rules around working from home are expected to ease in June.

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