Catering company Autogrill has signed an agreement with Pret A Manger to open branches of the shop in major airports in North America and airports and railways stations in Europe.
Under the agreement, Autogrill Group will manage the new North American openings through its subsidiary HMSHost, while operations in Europe will be run by HMSHost International. The first two Pret shops will be opened in Copenhagen Airport at the beginning of 2018, followed by the opening of another in the Netherlands.
Ezio Balarini, chief marketing officer at Autogrill, said, “This agreement with Pret enables us to bring one of the world’s most successful brands into more airports and train stations. This will contribute to enriching our portfolio of over 300 brands with a one-of-a kind offering.
“We’re happy with this important, new partnership with Pret, a brand which shares our vision of the business in terms of sustainable approach, food quality, freshness and innovation.”
Pret has more than 440 stores in seven countries worldwide, comprising the UK, the USA, Hong Kong and mainland China, France, Dubai and Singapore. The company is known for its responsible approach to doing business and its focus on local communities. The products sold in Pret A Manger restaurants do not have sell by dates because the unsold food is donated to charities at the end of the day as part of an effort to reduce food waste.
Michael Haley, Pret’s partnership director, commented, “Pret’s menu of freshly-made nutritious food to go is perfect for busy travelers. We’re already present in numerous transport hubs in the UK, France, Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore. The partnership with Autogrill will enable us to open new shops in major North American airports, as well as in Denmark and the Netherlands.
“Choosing the right partner is very important to Pret. We admire the strength of Autogrill’s operations and have already hosted their Danish team in our UK shops for training in preparation for the Copenhagen Airport opening.”