Pret a Manger cuts 2,800 jobs as 30 stores close after struggling due to coronavirus
PRET a Manger has axed 2,800 jobs as it struggles to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic.
The coffee chain said it will cut the roles from its shops after completing a restructuring of its UK business.
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The cuts come after the high street chain said last month that it was planning a shake-up which would result in the closure of 30 sites.
Most of the job losses affect store staff, although 90 of them are from Pret's support centre team.
Pret said that although there have been "clear signs of recovery" in footfall since the lockdown was eased, trade across its shops is still around 60 per cent down year-on-year.
Many of its outlets are placed near offices and airports but has suffered as the majority of city workers are still working from home.
Which Pret shops are closing for good?
THE following Pret cafes won't reopen following lockdown.
Greater London
- St George University Kiosk
- 421 Strand
- Heathrow Terminal 3 landside
- 109 Fleet St
- Strutton Ground
- Centre Point
- Warwick Way
- Byward Street
- Southwark The Cut
- 41 Piccadilly
- Wood St
- High St Uxbridge
Outside London
- 59 High St Worcester
- Albert St Nottingham
- Lion Yard Cambridge
- Fargate Sheffield
- Broad St Reading
- High Wycombe
- Metrocentre Gateshead
- Queensgate Centre Peterborough
- Shandwick Place Edinburgh
- East Street Chichester
- Glasgow Fort Shopping Centre
- Gallowtree Gate Leicester
- Shrewsbury
- Lakeside
- Capitol Centre Cardiff
- Grainger Street Newcastle
- Stratford-upon-Avon
- Chapelfield Norwich
It said the cuts were to reflect shorter opening hours, fewer sales and losses caused by the pandemic lockdown.
In June, the company said it had been losing "tens of millions of pounds each month" due to shops being shut and people working from home at the height of lockdown.
Chief executive officer Pano Christou said: "I'm gutted that we've had to lose so many colleagues.
"Although we're now starting to see a steady but slow recovery, the pandemic has taken away almost a decade of growth at Pret.
"We've managed to protect many jobs by making changes to the way we run our shops and the hours we ask team members to work."
Pret has 410 shops in the UK, 339 of which have now reopened for takeaway and delivery - customers can now also dine-in in some of its larger sites.
The chain was reportedly only able to pay a third of its rent after lockdown eased, offering landlords only a small portion of what it owes them.
After launching a consultation with staff in July, 1,000 roles have been saved after many volunteered to reduced their hours.
Pret says it hopes to increase them again by the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021.
Mr Christou added: "I'm hopeful we'll be able to review all these changes now that trade is improving again, and I'm encouraged by the improvements we're seeing every week.
"We'll soon be announcing a number of big changes to help bring Pret to more people.
"We're grateful to the government for the support they've given our sector, and hope that support will continue as long as possible to give Pret time to adjust."
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It's the latest blow to the high street, which was already struggling to stay open before the coronavirus pandemic.
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Last week, Marks & Spencer confirmed plans that it would cut 7,000 shop floor jobs.
Meanwhile, Boots, WH Smith and John Lewis are among others shedding staff.