Pret to expand into India

The sandwich chain has signed a long-term partnership with Reliance Brands Limited (RBL) to launch and build the brand in India. 

Around 10 sites are planned for the first year, with RBL targeting major cities and travel hubs. 

“Our partnership with Pret is rooted in the strong growth potential of both Pret as a brand as also of the food & beverage industry in India,” says Darshan Mehta, managing director at RBL.

“RBL closely follows the pulse of Indian consumers and there is an increased consciousness of what we eat – rapidly making Food the new Fashion. Indians, like their global counterparts, are seeking fresh and organic ingredient-led dining experiences which has been synonymous with Pret’s core offering.

“Couple that with the high recall the brand enjoys in the country, it’s undoubtedly a recipe for success.” 

This is the latest in a long line of international franchise deals signed by Pret in the last year.

Other new markets the group has recently expanded into include Canada, the Middle East, Ireland, Spain and Portugal.

It comes after Pret set out plans in September last year to double the size of its estate​​ within half a decade.

“Two decades ago, we opened Pret’s first shop in Asia and it’s been an inspiration for all of us to bring our freshly made food and 100% organic coffee to new cities across the continent,” says Pano Christou, CEO, Pret A Manger.

“RBL are a great partner to help us do just that, bringing their years of expertise in the market to help our brand succeed in India.

“We’re looking forward to working with them on what is our most ambitious global franchise partnership to date.”