Just days after announcing a tie-up with Tesco, food-to-go chain Pret A Manger is set to open its first outlet on a petrol forecourt.
The deal with forecourt operator Motor Fuel Group (MFG) will initially trial one shop from this week in a BP-branded station in Southgate, North London, with a view to opening a second outlet in 2022.
The Pret shop in MFG’s Southgate site will serve fresh food and coffee & tea, prepared in a full onsite kitchen.
Pret has been looking for new areas of growth after being heavily impacted by people working at home and not visiting its city centre stores during the pandemic. It has also started selling branded products in supermarkets.
Clare Clough, UK Managing Director of Pret A Manger, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Motor Fuel Group so that more people can access Pret’s freshly made food and organic coffee when they are on the move.
“Since the start of the pandemic, we have looked for innovative ways to bring Pret to more people, and partnerships, such as this one, are an important part of this strategy. We hope that customers will enjoy this new concept and we look forward to working more closely with the MFG team in the coming months.”
MFG is the largest independent forecourt operator in the UK with over 900 stations operating under the BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco, JET and Murco fuel brands.
Its Chief Executive William Bannister commented: “We are proud to become the first forecourt operator globally to welcome a Pret on site for consumers who want a more premium experience.
“We pride ourselves on not only serving the motorist, but on also being a leading convenience retailer. The fact that such a well-known and trusted high street brand as Pret has decided to trial their very first forecourt partnership with MFG cements our commitment to being a one-stop offering for both our local communities and those travelling through.”
In October last year, Pret announced a new partnership with Moto, which see the company expand its motorway service estate to three shops.
NAM Implications:
- After Lockdown, any incremental sales help.
- Methinks any sign of traction in the Southgate site…
- …will be followed by a fast roll-out.
