Pret A Manger to shut 30 shops and cut 1,000 jobs

The chain said 339 of its 410 UK shops had reopened after lockdown and that about 330 jobs would go from the 30 outlets to be shut. In total the chain is likely to cut more than 1,000 jobs, the BBC reported. Sales are down 74% year on year and trading is slow, the BBC said.

Pret said it faced a “difficult decision” caused by reduced footfall, high rents and distancing measures imposed on eateries allowed to reopen. The job cuts are the latest in a string of reductions made by familiar names such as John Lewis, Harrods and Pret’s rival sandwich seller Upper Crust.

Pret Chief Executive Pano Christou said: "It's a sad day for the whole Pret family, and I'm devastated that we will be losing so many employees. But we must make these changes to adapt to the new retail environment.”

The chain relies on office workers and travellers for much of its custom. Many office staff are working from home, leaving city centres quiet, and airports and train stations are operating at much reduced capacity.

Pret, which employs about 13,000 people, said it was trying to broaden its customer base by delivering through Deliveroo and other services.