Pret A Manger is set to expand its presence in the Middle East following the signing of One PM Franchising as its latest franchise partner.
The move forms part of Pret’s plan to double the size of its business within the next five years and follows last month’s announcement of a deal to introduce the brand and its products to A&W restaurants in Canada.
One PM Franchising is a subsidiary of One Franchising Holding, a regional food and beverage operator with a presence across eight countries.
Hamad Al-Sayer, One PM’s chairman, said the partnership would see the coffee chain establish a presence in Kuwait and “potentially other regional countries, and help expand its brand to our existing customers and markets in the Middle East”.
Pano Christou, Pret’s CEO, welcomed his company’s latest franchise partnership. “Our new partnership with One PM Franchising will help expand the beloved Pret brand in the Middle East, where we already have three shops,” he said. “We’re really pleased that Hamad and the One PM team will be joining us on this journey, helping to spread Pret joy to more customers.
“Demand for our freshly prepared food and organic coffee is growing, so to meet that demand we committed to an ambitious growth plan,” Christou added.
Pret’s five-year strategy, announced in September 2021, included a £100m cash injection from majority stakeholder JAB and the chain’s founder Sinclair Beecham to ‘accelerate expansion plans’.
Along with extending its reach into international markets, the blueprint for transformation includes the growth of the Pret shop estate, NPD and investment in new digital capabilities. The company is also aiming to shift its focus from cities and grow its presence in regional towns in response to changing consumer habits as a result of Covid-19.
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