Pret A Manger is one of the most familiar names on the British high street, but plenty of people who pop in for a coffee or a sandwich have never stopped to think about what it actually means. The answer is fairly simple, as the French name translates as “ready to eat”, and it has a clever link to the world of fashion too. The question has been doing the rounds again as the chain rolls out a new £4.99 lunch deal across the UK, aimed at people who want a cheaper lunch without giving up on choice.
Pret A Manger is a French phrase that translates into English as “ready to eat”. It reflects the idea behind the business, which is freshly made food and drinks that customers can grab quickly and enjoy on the go. Fans online have pointed out that the name is a play on the French fashion term prêt-à-porter, which means “ready to wear”. In fashion, that phrase describes clothes made in standard sizes that you can buy and wear straight away, rather than waiting for something tailor-made, and Pret’s name borrows the same idea for food.
Pret has been serving sandwiches, drinks and sweet treats since 1986, and most people simply call it “Pret”, so the full name and its meaning can easily pass people by. It’s also common to hear the name pronounced in lots of different ways, which shows how many of us have never given much thought to the French behind it. The question of what it means comes up regularly on sites such as Quora, where people share their explanations. It’s a good reminder that some of the brand names we see every day have interesting stories behind them.
How big Pret has become
The chain now has more than 700 shops around the world, and 527 of them are in the UK. It sells more than one million coffees every day across the country, making it one of the best-known names for a quick lunch or a morning coffee. Its menu includes sandwiches, salads, soups, pastries and hot drinks, and it changes with the seasons. In recent years it has also added more hot food, which has become especially popular in the colder months.
The new Pick your Pair deal and other menu items
View this post on Instagram
Pret has launched a new £4.99 lunch deal called Pick your Pair, which is now available nationwide after a trial over the summer. It features new warm ciabattas and seasonal coffees, and the idea is to let customers build the lunch they want for under £5.
Matt Bresnahan, Pret’s chief marketing officer, said customers don’t want to compromise between taste, variety, and value at lunchtime. He said the summer trial had a great response, which is why the deal is now being rolled out across the country.
New items for autumn include warm ciabattas such as Three Cheese and Tomato, Chicken Caesar Bacon, and Beef Birria and Jalapeño. There are also new pastries, including Spinach and Feta, and Bacon, Cheese and Jalapeño.
For colder days, there’s a Creamy Roast Chicken soup and a Butter Chicken soup, along with Banana Cinnamon Porridge for breakfast. Sweet treats include Loaded Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread and several new cookies, while seasonal drinks include a Toasted Marshmallow Latte, a Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate and the Pumpkin Spiced Latte.
Is it good value?
At £4.99, the new deal is pitched against the supermarket meal deals many of us rely on for lunch, so it’s worth comparing what you get before you decide. Supermarket deals are often cheaper, but a warm ciabatta and a hot drink might feel like better value on a cold day if you’d normally buy them separately.
Before you buy, check exactly which items are included, as lunch deals don’t usually cover everything on the menu. Prices can also vary slightly between locations, such as stations and airports, so it’s worth looking at the price in your local shop.
View this post on Instagram
If you buy lunch out several times a week, the cost can quickly add up over a month, even with a deal. Bringing lunch from home a few days a week and saving bought lunches for busier days is one simple way to keep spending under control. Many coffee shops and supermarkets also have loyalty schemes or apps that offer discounts, free drinks or points on your purchases. If you’re a regular customer, it’s worth checking whether you could be getting money back on what you already spend.
Before you sign up for a new deal or app, figure out how often you actually buy lunch out, and whether a deal will save you money or just encourage you to spend more. A bargain is only a bargain if you were going to buy something anyway. It also helps to think about what you really want from your lunch, whether that’s something hot, something healthy or simply something quick. Knowing that can make it easier to choose the best value option on the day.
Where to find out more
You can find full details of the Pick your Pair deal and the latest menu on Pret’s website or app, along with the nearest shop to you. The menu changes through the seasons, so it’s worth checking back as Christmas items start to appear. And next time someone asks what Pret A Manger means, you’ll be able to tell them that it’s simply French for “ready to eat”.
