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Pret to hire 3,000 new staff as city workers return | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Pret posted a 58% fall in sales to £299m in 2020, compared to £708m the year before | Pret posted a 58% fall in sales to £299m in 2020, compared to £708m the year before |
Pret A Manger says it is seeing a return of workers to the office in busy city centres. | |
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays were now the busiest for the sandwich chain, Pret boss Pano Christou told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | |
Pret has announced plans to hire 3,000 staff by the end of 2022 after cutting the same number of jobs last year. | |
Mr Christou said the chain hoped to open 200 more shops in the UK over the next two years. | |
He added that Pret hoped to expand into five markets overseas by the end of 2023, with many of the new outlets placed in train stations, bus stations and motorway services. | |
The expansion proposals come as demand from commuters and office workers - a key market for the chain - has started to pick up again after plunging during the Covid lockdowns. | The expansion proposals come as demand from commuters and office workers - a key market for the chain - has started to pick up again after plunging during the Covid lockdowns. |
The business is now looking to turn that around, despite having to tackle supply chain and heavy goods vehicle (HGV) lorry driver shortages, like many other businesses across the country. | |
"A couple of weeks ago, we ran out of some prepared fruit for two or three days [and] we were short of a couple of our bread lines for a couple of days," he said. | |
"I think we will see [the driver shortages] until the end of this year and into next year - there's a real challenge for the industry to navigate through." | |
Pandemic impact | |
The impact of the first lockdown led to Pret cutting 3,000 jobs, which represented a third of its workforce. Most of the jobs axed were from its shops, but 90 roles were also lost at its support centre. | The impact of the first lockdown led to Pret cutting 3,000 jobs, which represented a third of its workforce. Most of the jobs axed were from its shops, but 90 roles were also lost at its support centre. |
The chain posted a 58% fall in revenue to £299m in 2020, compared with £708m the year before. | |
Pret a Manger to cut staff hours | Pret a Manger to cut staff hours |
Pret A Manger plans rent talks in bid to avoid closures | Pret A Manger plans rent talks in bid to avoid closures |
Should I be working from home or going back to the office? | Should I be working from home or going back to the office? |
Mr Christou told the BBC the "most difficult period" over the last year was having to make people redundant. | |
"You have so many people's lives in your hands and making those decisions was the most difficult thing I had to do in my entire career," he said. | |
"When you have to make a call on thousands of people's jobs, that is something you spend a lot of time thinking through. But it was about how we could ensure that the business would survive and come through Covid." | "When you have to make a call on thousands of people's jobs, that is something you spend a lot of time thinking through. But it was about how we could ensure that the business would survive and come through Covid." |
As part of its recruitment drive, Pret said it had received a £100m investment from JAB and Pret founder Sinclair Beecham to accelerate the expansion. | |
Brighter future | |
"Last year we were in the eye of the storm during the height of the pandemic. Now we have the chance to build a bright new future for Pret," Mr Christou said. | "Last year we were in the eye of the storm during the height of the pandemic. Now we have the chance to build a bright new future for Pret," Mr Christou said. |
"It's been an incredibly tough two years, but we have a big opportunity ahead." | "It's been an incredibly tough two years, but we have a big opportunity ahead." |
Mr Christou said he was "definitely seeing our Pret stores getting busier" since coronavirus restrictions were lifted on 19 July. | Mr Christou said he was "definitely seeing our Pret stores getting busier" since coronavirus restrictions were lifted on 19 July. |
The number of employees working across the Pret has grown 28% since the start of the year, with more than 6,000 employees in the UK. About 30% of those employed this year had worked for Pret previously. | The number of employees working across the Pret has grown 28% since the start of the year, with more than 6,000 employees in the UK. About 30% of those employed this year had worked for Pret previously. |
"Clearly recruitment is a challenge at the moment, and we're putting everything behind ensuring that we are an employer of choice; that we pay well, that we've got the right benefits, and then we've got the right bonus available to attract new staff," Mr Christou said. | "Clearly recruitment is a challenge at the moment, and we're putting everything behind ensuring that we are an employer of choice; that we pay well, that we've got the right benefits, and then we've got the right bonus available to attract new staff," Mr Christou said. |
Last week Pret announced that it was increasing pay by at least 5% for its cafe workers, weeks after ditching paid breaks and attempting to slash bonuses. | Last week Pret announced that it was increasing pay by at least 5% for its cafe workers, weeks after ditching paid breaks and attempting to slash bonuses. |
The move means that starting pay for store workers will now rise to a minimum of £9.40 an hour, up from the legal minimum of £8.91, but all team members, including managers will get a raise. | The move means that starting pay for store workers will now rise to a minimum of £9.40 an hour, up from the legal minimum of £8.91, but all team members, including managers will get a raise. |
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