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LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - British coffee and sandwich chain
Pret A? Manger has teamed up with JDE Peet’s to trial
self-service coffee machines, further evolving its business
model after sales were hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pret has suffered as many of its just under 400 UK stores
are located on high streets, at transport hubs and close to
offices that have seen reduced occupancy during the crisis.
Pret, owned by investment group JAB and founder Sinclair
Beecham, said on Friday its "Pret Express" machines will be
introduced into convenience shops, petrol station forecourts,
universities, healthcare facilities and workplaces.
The machines offer the same coffees and teas available in
Pret shops.
JDE Peet’s, one of the world's largest consumer coffee
companies, will be providing the self-service technology.
"This is new territory for Pret, which will allow more
people across the country to enjoy Pret’s organic coffee and tea
on the go, in places where there isn’t the right space to set up
a new Pret shop," said Guy Meakin, Pret's UK trading director.
Last month Pret said it planned to double in size over the
next five years, despite reporting a 256.5 million pound
($354.2 million) loss for 2020.
Other changes to its operating model include the launch of a
subscription service for drinks.
Pret is also selling coffee lines through Amazon,
Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Ocado
, has delivery partnerships with Deliveroo, Just
Eat and Uber Eats and is trialing shops
within Tesco stores.
($1 = 0.7242 pounds)
(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Jason Neely)
