Pret to open its first motorway service shop

Pret A Manger is expected to open its first motorway service shop, at the end of the summer, as part of a trial partnership with Welcome Break.

The site will be situated at the South Mimms Services on Junction 23 of the M25.

Clive Schlee, CEO of Pret A Manger, said: "This is a new area for the Pret business, and one we're looking forward to exploring. We'll obviously have our own kitchen on the premises, allowing us to serve motorway customers with fresh, natural food, handmade throughout the day. I'm sure this natural food, and our organic coffee, will be well received by motorway customers.

"We will watch the results of the South Mimms shop with interest, and look forward to seeing how customers respond to Pret in this new environment."

Rod McKie, CEO of Welcome Break, added: "Welcome Break is very excited about the prospect of working with Pret on the UK motorways and indeed, putting the much loved Pret brand on the header boards for the first time.

"I am confident that this trial will be successful and lead to a long term partnership with Pret A Manger, and bring this amazing brand alongside our world class portfolio of brands to offer even greater choice to the travelling UK public."

The first site will be a 12-month trial with Welcome Break, and if successful will see other Pret shops opening across its service station portfolio.

Pret currently has around 400 shops, the majority of which are in the UK. Welcome Break has 27 sites across the country and attracts 85 million motorway customers each year.

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