British sandwich chain Pret A Manger will open its first Irish store on Dawson Street in Dublin city centre this summer.
The company, a lunchtime favourite of UK office workers, has partnered with Carebrook Partnership Ltd to operate the franchise in Ireland, with plans to establish 20 Pret stores on the island of Ireland over the next decade, creating approximately 500 jobs, including 25 at the Dawson Street outlet.
Carebrook has operated as a franchise partner for Pret for over 30 years, overseeing many of its London stores, and majority co-owner Gerard Loughran, who has over 30 years' experience in the UK and US food sectors, grew up in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
Minority co-owner Ray McNamara, from Dublin, has 25 years' experience in the Irish food industry and also owns the Ann's Bakery, which has three stores in central Dublin.
"We’ve been working with Pret for over three decades, ever since they arrived in London," Loughran said.
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"Having grown up in Tipperary, and with more than two decades of experience in the hospitality and food industry, I’ve always wanted to bring Pret to Ireland and Northern Ireland, so I’m delighted that this will soon become a reality alongside my co-owner Ray, who has great connections and links to the food sector in Dublin with 25 years’ experience.
"We look forward to welcoming our new customers, soon."
The agreement to launch Pret in Ireland follows the company's announcement last year that it would aim to double the size of its business within five years and launch in five new markets by the end of 2023.
"Setting up shop in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland has been our plan for a long time, and we’re thrilled that we’re finally able to make it happen," Pret A Manger CEO Pano Christou said.
"There has long been demand from our neighbours on the island of Ireland to bring Pret’s freshly prepared food and organic coffee, and now with the backing of Carebrook Partnership Ltd we’re able to do so. We look forward to making this partnership a success.”
Pret, which opened in London in 1986, is also aiming to hire at least 3,000 staff and baristas globally as part of the expansion. It will also roll out full ingredient labelling to shops in the Republic and the North as part of its allergy plan to ensure customers have the information they require when making their food choices.
It is expected that the price of sandwiches will soar this year as a result of rising labour, packaging and energy cost, with the cost of a BLT having increased 56% since the start of 2019, according to data compiled by Mintec and the Financial Times.
Photo: Pret A Manger's store on St Martin's Lane in London.
