Pret A Manger has opened the first two shops in partnership with motorway services operator Roadchef.
At the same time, the food-to-go chain revealed that it will remove its Express self-service coffee machines from the UK market.
Pret’s new sites at Strensham Services on either side of the M5 in Worcestershire are set to create at least 19 jobs and will operate daily from 7am to 7pm. The Southbound shop opens today (28 November) followed by the Northbound shop on 5 December.
The company said these openings form part of its medium-term strategy to drive sustainable growth by expanding into travel hub locations.
Customers can enjoy Pret’s full menu of freshly prepared sandwiches, salads, hot food, snacks, and baked goods, including favourites such as the all-butter croissant, Chicken Caesar & Bacon Baguette, and Posh Cheddar & Pickle Baguette all made throughout the day in on-site kitchens.
“We’re thrilled to open two new shops in Strensham with our franchise partner Roadchef,” commented Sam Otterburn, head of franchise at Pret A Manger. “These locations give travellers a perfect place to pause and refuel with freshly made food and organic coffee.”
Roadchef catering & brand development director Howard Lockwood highlighted the operator’s commitment to providing its customers with a range of world-class brands. “Pret marks another perfect addition to our portfolio. We know that our visitors expect great quality products on the go and this latest partnership ensures our customers have even more choice when they next stop at Roadchef,” he said.
Roadchef has 31 locations across the UK, recording nearly 50 million visitors to its motorway service areas each year and employing around 4,000 people.
Pret is also looking to make the move into drive-thrus in early 2026.
Speaking to The Sunday Times last September, Pret CEO Pano Christou said its inaugural drive-thru would most likely be operated by a franchise partner at a motorway services and is due to open sometime within the first three months of next year. A handful of other drive-thrus locations are said to be in discussion too.
Other chains continue to adapt and invest in their drive-thrus. Earlier this year, Greggs unveiled its first ever Eco Drive-Thru in Winchester featuring a range of new sustainability initiatives. Costa – which has a presence at all Roadchef locations – began trialling 24-hour trading at its Leicester Meridien East drive-thru last year.
Express exit
Meanwhile, Pret has announced the removal of all 110 of its Pret Express branded self-service coffee machines from sites across the country by the end of February 2026. It had entered into a partnership with global coffee company JDE Peet in 2021 to trial the coffee-to-go format, targetting convenience stores, forecourts, universities, healthcare facilities, and workplaces.
A Pret spokesperson said the firm had taken the decision to end the Pret Express trial so that it could focus investment on continuing to grow its UK shop estate. “We’re working closely with JDE Peet’s to ensure a smooth transition and are grateful for their partnership over the past four years,” added the spokesperson.
Pret recently began testing a range of premium yet affordable meal deals such as a croissant and coffee for breakfast or crisps and a sandwich for lunch.
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