Pret A Manger reduces staff working hours
Embattled sandwich chain Pret A Manger has reduced the working hours of its staff in a bid to retain jobs.
It comes as the group’s sales are currently down 65% compared with pre-Covid levels. In London sales are down 80%, where the challenges are reportedly most acute.
It said that with footfall in its shops still “significantly below normal levels”, it has had to review the hours its staff are contracted to work each week. The group said its “biggest priority” is to do everything it can to save jobs.
However, it hopes to increase these hours as trading improves. A spokesperson said: “By making these changes we are able to save a large number of roles.”
It comes after reports in July claimed Pret a Manger was set to slash almost 1,000 staff roles and shutter 30 of its 450 UK stores amid spiralling sales.
According to a report by the Financial Times, Pret’s CEO, Pano Christou, said on 6 July that the chain is facing a “significant restructuring of the business”, as it seeks to return sales to at least 50-60% of pre-Covid-19 levels by September.
