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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Pret a Manger sandwich chain to create 550 jobs in UK | Pret a Manger sandwich chain to create 550 jobs in UK |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Pret a Manger sandwich chain is creating 550 jobs in the UK this year as the company continues its rapid expansion. | |
| Pret plans to open 44 new stores in 2012, of which 20 will be overseas. | Pret plans to open 44 new stores in 2012, of which 20 will be overseas. |
| Those expansion plans were released along with the company's annual results. Sales rose 15% last year to £377.3m. | Those expansion plans were released along with the company's annual results. Sales rose 15% last year to £377.3m. |
| The company said that two stores which opened in Paris earlier this year were doing well and it plans two more. | The company said that two stores which opened in Paris earlier this year were doing well and it plans two more. |
| Pret's chief executive, Clive Schlee, told the BBC he had been nervous of how the company would be received in France and was delighted at how well the stores were doing. | |
| He said the French ate fewer baguettes from its stores than the British did, but ate more cakes and puddings. | |
| Pret has 294 stores mostly in the UK with some outlets in the US, Hong Kong and France. | Pret has 294 stores mostly in the UK with some outlets in the US, Hong Kong and France. |
| Workers | |
| The company was recently criticised by London Mayor Boris Johnson and by Employment Minister Chris Grayling for not employing enough UK nationals. | |
| But Mr Schlee said that staff in the stores reflected the population of the areas in which they operated. | |
| "In the regions I think the majority [of recruits] will pretty much be British people but London is a more multi-cultural city and there will be more foreigners. But we want as many British people to apply as possible," he said. | |
| The business has an apprenticeship scheme for homeless people, which it plans to expand this year to 70 places. | |
| Pret has been controlled by the investment firm Bridgepoint since 2008 when the founders sold it a 50% stake. | Pret has been controlled by the investment firm Bridgepoint since 2008 when the founders sold it a 50% stake. |
| Under that deal McDonald's also sold its 33% stake, which it had held since 2001. | Under that deal McDonald's also sold its 33% stake, which it had held since 2001. |