Pret A Manger is set to open its first store in Canada after finalising an agreement with A&W Food Services.
Terms of the deal were first agreed in October 2021, with Pret CEO Pano Christou admitting it was “still at the early stages”. However, the two companies have now confirmed the signing of a country agreement that grants the Canadian foodservice firm master franchisor rights.
A&W Food Services will now move forward with a two-year pilot, during which it will introduce the Pret brand within A&W restaurants in ‘select markets’ in Canada.
The A&W restaurant locations participating in the trial phase are expected to launch a Pret menu range and organic coffees in the second quarter of 2022. The first shop to trial the Pret brand will be in Vancouver, with plans for an opening this summer.
If the trial phase is successful, A&W Food Services will have the exclusive right to expand the Pret brand across Canada based on an agreed development schedule.
“We are excited to introduce Pret’s fresh and delicious menu range in a select number of A&W restaurants this year,” said Susan Senecal, chief executive officer of A&W Food Services. “We believe Canadian consumers will respond very positively and come to love the Pret brand and all that it represents.”
Pret CEO Christou pointed out that the agreement was in line with the coffee chain’s ambitions to expand into new markets and “bring Pret to more people worldwide”.
“I’m excited to confirm that Pret will be coming to customers in Canada this summer through our franchise agreement with A&W,” he said. “We know Canadians have long been calling for Pret in their community. Thanks to this new partnership, we’re finally able to bring our freshly made food and 100% organic coffee to Canada as part of a two-year trial.”
In April, Pret announced the expansion of its reach into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after striking a deal with franchise outfit Carebrook Partnership. The company is also extending its presence in the Middle East following the signing of One PM Franchising as a franchise partner in November 2021.
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