Pret A Manger is the latest high street chain heading roadside
The coffee and sandwich chain began trialling its first roadside site with Welcome Break at South Mimms Services last year, but the new deal gives it potential to expand across Roadchef’s 30 UK locations.
The first site will open at Chester Motorway Service Area (MSA) on the M56 at junction 14 before Christmas, and a second site will open at Clacket Lane West MSA on the M25 between junction 5 and 6 in spring 2018.
Pret CEO Clive Schlee says the stores will have their own on-site kitchens to prepare hot and cold food throughout the day.
Pret joins a growing number of brands targeting roadside expansion as restaurant groups face rising rents and business rates on high street sites. Leon opened its first two motorway units with Roadchef earlier this year, with plans to expand further in the next five years.
PizzaExpress launched its first 88-cover motorway service restaurant this month, and says it is looking to open ‘many more’ roadside sites in future.
The news comes after Pret announced it will double its reusable cup discount from 25p to 50p from 2018 to discourage people from throwing their cups away after one use. It is also planning to explore offering more china cups in-store and launching its own reusable cup next year.
