Pret a Manger to take on supermarkets by trialling meal deals

Format to be tested in last quarter of year after chain’s value cut by a third amid ‘intense strains’ on hospitality industry

Pret a Manger is finally caving in to competition from supermarkets by launching meal deals, after the value of the chain was slashed by a third amid “intense strains” on the hospitality industry.

The sandwich and coffee chain said it intends to test the meal deal format in the last quarter of this year, as a medium-term strategy to grow the Pret brand and return to sustainable profits. It did not say how much the meal deals will cost.