Pret a Manger to close 30 shops putting at least 1,000 jobs at risk
PRET a Manger is set to permanently close 30 of its shops, putting at least 1,000 jobs at risk.
As well as shutting shops, Pret will also reduce staff numbers in all its remaining stores.
Pret has been struggling during the coronavirus lockdown with its sales down 74 per cent compared to the same time last year.
The cafe chain said it has suffered "significant operating losses" after closing all its UK branches on March 21.
Pret added that its recovery in the UK was "much slower" compared to other countries where it has stores.
On top of shop closures - which will affect stores that have yet to reopen -support teams will also be restructured, and a sale process will be started for the lease of its main support office in London Victoria.
Which Pret shops are closing for good?
THE following Pret cafes won't reopen following lockdown.
Greater London
- St George University Kiosk
- 421 Strand
- Heathrow Terminal 3 landside
- 109 Fleet St
- Strutton Ground
- Centre Point
- Warwick Way
- Byward Street
- Southwark The Cut
- 41 Piccadilly
- Wood St
- High St Uxbridge
Outside London
- 59 High St Worcester
- Albert St Nottingham
- Lion Yard Cambridge
- Fargate Sheffield
- Broad St Reading
- High Wycombe
- Metrocentre Gateshead
- Queensgate Centre Peterborough
- Shandwick Place Edinburgh
- East Street Chichester
- Glasgow Fort Shopping Centre
- Gallowtree Gate Leicester
- Shrewsbury
- Lakeside
- Capitol Centre Cardiff
- Grainger Street Newcastle
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Chapelfield Norwich
Pret will start a consultation process with employees this week - a final decision on job cuts will then be made after this.
It had previously been suggested that the cafe chain could shut up to 45 stores.
Pret has 410 shops in the UK, 339 of which have now reopened for takeaway and delivery - customers can now also dine-in in some of its larger sites.
Last month, the company said it had been losing "tens of millions of pounds each month" due to shops being shut and people working from home during lockdown.
The majority of Pret's shops are placed near offices and airports, meaning a large chunk sales usually comes from workers and travellers.
Businesses in turmoil in 2019 and 2020
PRET A Manger is the latest in a long list of businesses to be facing trouble. In 2019 and so far in 2020 we've seen:
- Go Outdoors enter into administration putting 2,400 jobs at risk
- Jamie Oliver's "Jamie's Italian"chain go bust, alongside his Fifteen and Barbecoa restaurants
- Links of London go into administration putting 350 jobs at risk
- Marks and Spencer close 35 more stores as it pushes forward with plans to axe 145 shops across the UK
- Dozens of Monsoon and Accessorize stores close
- Struggling shoe shop Office has said it "could close shops" as part of restructuring plans
- Fears Pizza Express could be next to go into administration as it "brings in emergency advisers"
- Hairdressing chain Supercutswent into administration in October 2019 - putting 1,200 jobs and 220 salons at risk
- Maternity and baby retailer Mothercare collapsed into administration in November 2019 after 58 years on the high street, putting 2,500 jobs at risk
- Department store chain Bealeswent into administration in January 2020 with 23 shops and 1,052 jobs at risk
- High end fashion brand Ted Baker said it plans to axe 160 jobs in February 2020
- Mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehousesaid in March 2020 that it'll close all 531 standalone stores in April
- Vintage furnishing and fashion firm Cath Kidston said it was closing all 60 high street stores in March 2020
- Fashion store Animal said in April 2020 it was closing all 21 of its UK stores
- Department store chain Debenhams fell into administration for the second time in April 2020
- P&O Ferries said in May 2020 that it was looking at making 1,100 workers redundant
- TUI warned in May 2020 that 8,000 jobs could be cut due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis
- British Airways said in May 2020 that it still plans on pressing ahead with 12,000 job cuts
- Oasis and Warehouse went into administration in May 2020, with 1,800 staff placed on furlough
- Shoe chain Aldo collapsed into administration in June 2020 with five stores permanently closed
- Victoria's Secrets plunged into administration in June 2020, putting 800 jobs at risk
- Fashion chain Quiz put its shop business into administration in June 2020, putting 82 stores at risk
Pret was reported to have seen sales drop to £3million, just 15 per cent of what they would usually be, according to a leaked video seen by the .
As a result, the chain was reportedly only able to pay a third of its rent after offering landlords only a small portion of what it owes them.
The news of store closures comes just days after Mr Christou warned Pret is currently in "the eye of the storm".
In a letter to landlords seen by the , he said: "We feel strongly that the Pret brand has every reason to believe it will thrive again, but we are currently in the eye of the storm."
The coronavirus crisis has sparked heightened concern for the future of the UK high street, with a raft of major chains plunging into administration over the last few months.
It comes as the Centre for Retail Research predicts that 20,000 shops could close for good this year.
Shops including Cath Kidston and Laura Ashley have already collapsed, while Debenhams has also been forced to call in administrators for the second time in 12 months.
We've got a full round-up of all the shops and restaurants that have gone bust here.
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Pret chief executive, Pano Christou said: "It’s a sad day for the whole Pret family, and I’m devastated that we will be losing so many employees.
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"But we must make these changes to adapt to the new retail environment.
"Our goal now is to bring Pret to more people, through different channels and in new ways, enabling us to grow once more in the medium term."