Pret Click & Collect

Source: Pret A Manger

Pret A Manger is rolling out a click & collect service in eight of its 11 Manchester stores. 

The trial, which launches today (June 2), rides on the back of a wave of activity by the food-to-go retailer to transform its business model.

Under the latest initiative, customers in Manchester will be able to visit the Pret website and order ahead before picking up their items. Pret’s coffee subscribers will also be able to order hot, iced or blended Barista-made drinks for collection throughout the day at a time that suits them.

A 50p click & collect fee will be applied to any transaction, the retailer said.

The move builds on Pret A Manger’s mission to bring ‘Pret to more people’. In May, the food-to-go operator revealed it would open new shops in petrol stations owned by Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the UK’s largest forecourt operator.

In the same month, it announced plans to pilot four new shops in Tesco stores, while in March Pret revealed it had moved into grocery food retail for the first time with a three-strong bake-at-home croissant range.

Speaking about the latest Manchester click & collect trial, Dan Burdett, Pret A Manger’s chief customer and growth officer, said: “It’s been amazing to join Pret at such a time of transformation, as we work to evolve the ways customers can enjoy our freshly made food and organic coffee, making it easier for them to shop with us on their terms.

“The brand has always prided itself on serving our customers great quality food and drink, with a smile, and fast, so the evolution of click and collect in our shops estate is an example of how we’re working to digitise the things that make Pret, Pret.”

Pret was badly hit by the pandemic, cutting more than 3,500 jobs and permanently closing 39 shops across the UK. In its recent annual accounts the business warned of ‘material uncertainties’ that could ‘cast significant doubt’ over its ability to continue as a going concern.