Sandwich chain Pret A Manger has become incredibly popular with workers during the lunchtime rush thanks to their fresh baguettes bursting with a variety of fillings. This popularity has allowed the chain to post continuous sales growth over the past several quarters, with the result that further expansion has now been confirmed.
Last year, like for like sales increased by 17 per cent to £443 million, translating to an underlying profit total of £61.1 million – also due to a 17 per cent increase. A total of 36 new stores were opened during the 12 month period, bringing the chain’s total property portfolio to 320.
Now chief executive Clive Schlee has confirmed Pret A Manger’s intention to open a further 50 premises in the next 12 months, creating up to 1,000 jobs in the chain’s key markets. 500 of these positions will be situated in the UK, giving the lagging employment market a much needed boost.
Unfortunately, Mr Schlee has been forced to respond to criticisms of the company’s hiring policy, as rumours of favouring foreign staff have been predominant in publicity regarding the chain of late. Pret A Manger has increased its British employees by 15 per cent in the past year, with Mr Schlee claiming that only London stores have a higher volume of foreign workers.
He says; “Outside London Pret is predominantly British.
“Inside London it’s a much more cosmopolitan economy and our staff reflects the nature of the people in London.”
Pret has also chosen to tackle the issue of youth unemployment by introducing a school-leavers programme. It aims to boost the number of British applicants joining the company as well as providing a stable 12 week intensive training course for those new to the world of business.
This programme will be extended nationwide by September, yet critics claim that this will be too late for British workers to take advantage of the 500 new roles being created between now and the beginning of 2014.
Mr Schlee claims that it is the quality, not the background, of applicants which is taken into account by Pret A Manger.
He continues; “We are expanding our school-leavers programme this coming year and will continue to do all that we can to attract more British applicants.
“We will always employ the very best people at Pret and we celebrate the rich diversity of our workforce and the atmosphere that brings to our shops.”
Pret was bought by Bridgepoint in 2008 for £345 million and has since undergone a huge international expansion, with stores now open in the US, Hong Kong and Paris. The Parisian stores in particular have been hugely successful, with average weekly sales totalling more than in any other area worldwide.
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