Pret plans regional roll-out to reduce reliance on London

The food chain will open 100 franchises plus around 100 of its own shops in the next two to three years in a bid to expand outside of city centres that have been hardest hit by Covid.

The coffee shop has suffered financially over the past year due to the lack of commuters and tourists in its traditional locations.

Pret said it was in talks with franchise partners who could potentially help it reach regional locations, which have been popular during the pandemic.

The move comes after Pret launched a partnership with Tesco to open its shops inside Tesco supermarkets, as well as launching its frozen food items, as it seeks to shake up its business model.

A Pret spokesperson said: “In some areas such as regional towns and parts of northern England, our shops are busier than they have ever been.

“We’re looking to establish new partnerships with franchise partners to bring Pret to more people in towns and travel hubs across the UK, and we’re also looking at where we can open more shops which we run directly.”