Pret a Manger Wants to Sell 13 EAT Restaurants in London

Pret a Manger, the U.K. high street sandwich juggernaut, is planning to sell 13 EAT restaurants in London, according to Big Hospitality. Pret a Manger acquired EAT earlier this year, and originally planned to convert around 30 of its restaurants into the rapidly growing Veggie Pret model. Now, it’s looking to dispose of some real estate.

The EAT sites on the market are:

• Aldersgate Street
• Chancery Lane
• Clapham Junction
• St James’s
• Farringdon Street
• Fenchurch Street
• Fetter Lane
• Great Peter Street
• High Holborn
• Kings Road
• Strutton Ground
• Tottenham Court Road
• Tower Hill

At the time of the acquisition, Pret a Manger chief executive Clive Schlee said, “The purpose of this deal is to serve a growing demand of vegetarian and vegan customers... We have been developing the Veggie Pret concept for over two years and we now have four hugely successful shops across London and Manchester.”

“The acquisition of the EAT estate is a wonderful opportunity to turbo charge the development of Veggie Pret and put significant resources behind it.”

The 400-strong restaurant chain went through its own acquisition last year, when JAB Holding acquired Pret for £1.5 billion. JAB added Pret to its portfolio after buying out Krispy Kreme in 2016, having bought US coffee giant Keurig Green Mountain the year before. JAB also owns Stumptown Coffee Roasters and Peet’s Coffee and Tea, with Pret its first UK high street acquisition, but not its first sandwich shop: the company owns Panera Bread in the USA.

More soon.