Pret gives staff their third pay rise in 12 months

Pret is giving its 7,870 UK shop staff a 3% pay increase from April, following two rises last year.

The business said this means the average base pay for shop staff will have increased by 19% in the year to April, above the UK rate of inflation, while entry-level pay will have increased by 15%.

The pay hikes come as hospitality businesses continue to face intense competition for staff, with many struggling to recruit and retain workers, and will be just four months after the last company-wide increase.

Pret said the latest pay rise will apply to shop employees irrespective of age, although some differences may apply depending on role, experience, and location.

Pay for Pret team members will increase from between £10.30 and £11.55 an hour to between £10.60 and £11.90 an hour depending on location. With the ‘mystery shopper bonus’, given for a limited time to workers who score highly in mystery visits, this could rise to between £11.85 and £13.15 an hour.

Barista pay will increase from between £10.85 and £12.50 an hour to between £11.20 and £12.85, depending on location and experience, or between £12.45 and £14.10 an hour with the mystery shopper bonus.

Pret said it had been looking at ways to improve its staff benefits package and has opened an online discount portal that gives staff access to fresh food and other essential items from supermarkets and other businesses at a lower cost. The retailers in the scheme include Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Iceland, Currys, Primark and Sports Direct.

“We’re proud to be making another significant investment in our people’s success and wellbeing,” said Pret A Manger UK & Ireland interim managing director Guy Meakin.

“As the cost of living continues to rise, we hope this latest increase in pay, and our expanded benefits package, goes some way in providing further support for our hardworking teams.”

The investment in pay is part of the Pret growth strategy announced in 2021, including opening more than 200 new UK shops by 2023 and doubling the size of the business within five years.