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IT'S PRET-A-VEGGIE

High Street food chain Pret A Manger could open a string of vegetarian-only restaurants

Following on from the store's veggie only pop-up there could be plans to continue the theme

A POP-UP vegetarian only Pret A Manger has been such a success that bosses could look to open more.

The coffee chain has embraced the recent shift to a more vegetarian or vegan diet and trialled its first meat-free store in the centre of London.

 A Pret superfood salad - one of the dishes which has sold well in other stores and inspired bosses to try out a vegetarian only store
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A Pret superfood salad - one of the dishes which has sold well in other stores and inspired bosses to try out a vegetarian only storeCredit: Alice Clarke
 Veggie Pret, distinctive with a green banner, has enormous carrots made from trees flanking the store - which has proved a hit
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Veggie Pret, distinctive with a green banner, has enormous carrots made from trees flanking the store - which has proved a hitCredit: Alice Clarke

It has been so successful that it has been reported the coffee and sandwich store is likely to open more meat-free shops.

Chefs created 45 plant-based dishes for the pop-up store in Broadwick Street, and the eight top sellers are all vegan.

Avocado is the ingredient which has really fallen into favour for a younger generation trying to 'eat clean'.

Bosses decided to trial the project, called 'Veggie Pret', after sales of vegetarian products doubled in 2015.

In the three weeks since it opened at the beginning of June, takings are up 70 per cent - although predictions were given that sales would drop by 30 per cent when the plan was first announced.

To compliment the vegetable heavy theme, trees at the front of the store have been made to look like giant carrots sprouting from the concrete.

In a blog post, Pret A Manger chief executive Clive Schlee wrote: “The shop is packed and this is the first time I have seen customers in London sitting on the floor to eat their lunch.

"The energy of the shop is also quite remarkable. This shows that vegan dishes can be just as delicious as veggie dishes or we have underestimated how strong the vegan movement is.

 A new vegan Pret sushi salad, created as one of the 45 new dishes put together especially by chefs for Veggie Pret in Broadwick Street
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A new vegan Pret sushi salad, created as one of the 45 new dishes put together especially by chefs for Veggie Pret in Broadwick StreetCredit: Alice Clarke

"It’s early days, and we are having a big internal debate about this.

"The original idea was to close the shop after four weeks, but we are now inclined to keep it open slightly longer to see whether demand is still as strong once the initial hype dies down.

"There are some who would like to convert every fourth Pret into a Veggie Pret, and to explore its success in other markets too."

He added: “Customers are taking photos of the food, writing down the ingredients, and giving us messages of overwhelming support on the Hit the Spot/Lost the Plot notice board.

"A meat-free environment seems to generate an infectious positive energy.”


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