Pret to ramp-up expansion in Germany with Berlin-based franchise partner

The UK food-to-go and coffee chain says Germany is a ‘key market’ for its international expansion and will open five stores in Berlin by the end of 2023

Pret plans to grow its German store footprint from four to nine stores by the end of 2023 | Photo credit: Pret A Manger

Pret A Manger has announced plans to more than double its presence in Germany, with five new outlets slated to open in Berlin by the end of 2023.
 
The JAB Holding-backed chain has partnered with franchisee PM Nord GmbH to open the first two stores in Friedrichstrasse, a major cultural and retail hub, and the Sony Center at The Playce at Potsdamer Platz in November 2023. Further outlets will open at Leipziger Platz, The Playce at Potsdamer Platz shopping centre, and Steglitzer Schloßstraße, one of Berlin’s busiest shopping streets before the end of the year. 
 
According to press release, PM Nord has acquired several outlets of German café chain CARAS, which will be converted in Pret outlets.
 
“Following the success of our shops in German transport hubs, launching the Pret brand in downtown Berlin is a major milestone in our European expansion. We’ve long heard that locals would love to have a Pret in the city centre, so we’re delighted to be working with new franchise partner PM Nord GmbH to bring our freshly made food and organic coffee to more people and add something new to Berlin’s vibrant food-to-go scene.”
 
Pret entered the German market in 2018 with a store at Berlin Central Station and currently operates four locations across Frankfurt, Berlin and Düsseldorf. Expansion in Germany forms part of a wider goal set in 2021 to double the size of its business by 2026. It also comes hot on the heels of an announcement to triple the size of its US business via a joint venture with franchisee Dallas Holdings.
 
In the last 12 months Pret has opened new shops in Luxembourg, Italy, and Ireland and India and plans to launch in Portugal and Spain soon.
 
Pret currently operates around 600 outlets around the world, employing 9,900 staff in 15 international markets. In July 2023 Pret posted 2022 sales of £790m ($1.01bn) and a £50.6m ($66m) operating profit – its first in five years.