Pret A Manger sees sales increase by 230% for the first half of 2022

The group saw sales hit £358m, 160% ahead of the same period in 2020, boosted by strong UK sales outside London, helping it return to profit in March.

Pret has grown its regional presence with new sites in Harrogate, Leeds, York and Brentwood as part of its plans to double its estate by 2026. More than a third of its 442-strong UK estate (36%) is now located in regional towns and cities.

May revenue also exceeded 2019 levels for the first time, with particularly strong regional and suburban sales.

The group, which is to file its 2021 group accounts at Companies House this week, says full year revenue for 2021 was £461.5m – up 17% from 2020 (£392.9m).

“Two years ago, we said we wanted to bring Pret to more people. During the first half of this year, we not only delivered on that pledge, but we also grew fastest in some of the places where we only had a handful of Pret shops before,” says chief executive Pano Christou.

“The opportunity now is for us to take that growth and apply it internationally. Since the start of this year, we’ve signed four new partnership agreements to take Pret into new global markets.

“The second half of this year will be about taking that a step further, while continuing to run our business with the fast, friendly, joyful service which has made Pret what it is today.”

Pret also says its coffee subscription is used more than one million times per week in the UK.