British sandwich chain Pret A Manger plans to open up to 100 shops in New York within the next five years, commercial director Simon Hargraves has confirmed.

The company is already on course to open another 27 sites on top of the 13 it already has in the US city over the next three years, bringing the total to 40.

But Hargraves told British Baker: "I’m certain we can do a lot more than 40 [shops], provided everything goes well and I see no reason why it shouldn’t."

Pret A Manger is also studying plans to set up in Boston and Washington within the next two to three years, but refuses to confirm the cost of the expansion programme, which has been estimated at between £30m and £60m.

The company said group turnover was £192m in 2006, up £22m on 2005.

Operating profit before exceptional income and goodwill was £14.2m compared to £10.84m in 2005.

UK operating profit before goodwill was £19m compared to £12.2m for 2005.