Pret A Manger To Close 30 UK Shops, Could Cut Over 1,000 Jobs

British coffee and sandwich chain Pret A Manger has said that some 30 UK outlets will remain closed after the coronavirus lockdown and could cut around 1,000 jobs, reflecting a major hit to customer demand from the crisis.

Pret, owned by investment group JAB Holdings, runs about 550 shops across 10 markets. In the UK it has 410 shops, 339 of which have reopened. Out of a global workforce of 13,000, some 8,000 are employed in the UK.

The group said it has faced “significant operating losses” following the outbreak of the pandemic, with sales across UK shops down 74% year-on-year.

ESM