MILAN – Autogrill announces the signing of an agreement with Pret A Manger based on which the Group will open Pret shops in major airports in North America and in airports and railway stations in Europe, including The Netherlands and Denmark.
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 the Copenhagen Airport at the beginning of 2018, followed by the opening of another in The Netherlands.
“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 – commented Autogrill Chief Marketing Officer Ezio Balarini – 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’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 – stated Pret Partnership Director Michael Haley – 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”.
Today Pret has more than 440 stores in seven countries worldwide (United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong, France, China, Dubai and Singapore). The company was set up in London in 1986 with the mission to serve fresh, handmade, natural food with high quality service in welcoming shops.
Pret is also known for its responsible approach to doing business and its focus on local communities: the products sold in Pret A Manger restaurants, prepared daily with ethically sourced ingredients, 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.
