The UK coffee and food-to-go chain is replacing frappes, smoothies and milkshakes with a new range of iced coffee and tea beverages to provide better menu integration with its monthly subscription service
Pret A Manger has announced an overhaul of its in-store beverage offering, ceasing sales of blended smoothies and juices to focus on barista-prepared iced beverages.
Seeking to improve the consistency of its £25-a-month subscription service across its 440 UK stores, the company will phase out blended beverages, such as frappes, smoothies and milkshakes, which it said are too time-consuming for staff to serve.
Pret A Manger has already begun removing blenders from its stores in the UK.
The JAB Holding-backed company will instead install new ice machines across its UK outlets, offering a new range of iced coffee and tea beverages from April 2023. Once completed, the company said iced beverages will be available at over 90% of its UK stores.
Pret A Manger labelled the move as its ‘biggest drinks innovation’ in over five years.
The UK coffee and food-to-go chain previously received criticism from customers that not all beverages included in its subscription service were available across its UK store network.
A Pret A Manger spokesperson said: “We know that Pret customers are huge fans of iced coffees and drinks, so over the next few months we’ll be increasing their availability across more Pret locations with new ice machines installed across our shops. We will also be replacing our current range of frappes and smoothies from April, and bringing in a bigger range of iced drinks to choose from.”
In October 2022 Pret A Manger announced a second pay rise for UK staff within 12 months to help employees cope with the rising cost of living.
The company currently operates more than 550 stores across 10 countries and is expected to enter Spain, Portugal, Israel and Qatar this year.
