Pret a Manger trials first-ever stores on petrol forecourts

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Food-to-go specialist Pret a Manger has partnered with petrol-station operator Motor Fuel Group (MFG) to trial its first-ever forecourt stores.

Pret is set to open one trial store at an MFG-owned and BP-branded petrol forecourt in Southgate, London.

It will be the brand’s first foray into forecourts, with Pret saying it would look to open a second by the end of 2022.

The food-to-go specialist said its move into forecourts “marks another significant step” in its “transformation plan to bring Pret to more people”.

It said the Southgate store will “serve a menu of freshly prepared food and organic coffee and teas, all prepared in Pret’s bespoke, full on-site kitchens throughout the day”, designed to replicate the customer experience of one of its hundreds of high street stores.

Pret a Manger’s UK managing director Clare Clough said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Motor Fuel Group so that more people can access Pret’s freshly made food and organic coffee when they are on the move.

“Since the start of the pandemic, we have looked for innovative ways to bring Pret to more people, and partnerships such as this one are an important part of this strategy.

“We hope that customers will enjoy this new concept and we look forward to working more closely with the MFG team in the coming months.”

MFG chief executive William Bannister said: “We are proud to become the first forecourt operator globally to welcome a Pret on site for consumers who want a more premium experience. We pride ourselves on not only serving the motorist, but on also being a leading convenience retailer.

“The fact that such a well-known and trusted high street brand as Pret has decided to trial their very first forecourt partnership with MFG cements our commitment to being a one-stop offering for both our local communities and those travelling through.

“We look forward to working with the Pret team on what I am sure will be a hugely successful and popular addition for our customers.”

The food-to-go retailer recently announced it would be trialling new shop-in-shop formats with Tesco, following the launch of its first ever supermarket range across 700 of the grocer’s stores. It also struck a trial partnership with Moto.