Pret A Manger announces £10m staff pay rise

Pret A Manger has announced it will be investing an additional £10m in staff pay to support its UK workforce with the rising cost of living, with all UK employees across shops and its support centre set to receive a 5% pay increase, effective 1 December 2022.

This means that 8,600 shop staff, including team members, baristas and shop managers, will see an average baseline pay increase of 13% within a year, which is currently above inflation.

Overall 6,500 shop team members will receive a pay and benefits package worth more than £11.55 per hour, with the majority earning above £11.75 per hour. Additionally, Pret baristas will reportedly be amongst the highest paid in the industry, now able to earn up to £13.75 per hour.

This marks the second consecutive year that Pret has given two pay increases in the same year, and the announcement is the company’s biggest pay investment in its 36-year history. 

It will take the total Pret has invested in pay in 2022 to almost £20m, following Pret’s previous investment of £9.2m in staff pay in 1 April 2022.

Meanwhile, Pret also announced that its chief people officer, Andrea Wareham, will be stepping down from the role after 22 years. She will be replaced by Ed Evans who will join the company from Yum! Brands where he has worked for nine years. 

Guy Meakin, interim managing director at Pret A Manger UK and Ireland, said: “Our people have always been at the heart of our business. All over the country, our shop teams work around the clock to make Pret a place people love.

“With the rising cost of living putting increased pressure on our people, we wanted to do more to support them, and to say thank you for continuing to go above and beyond for our customers.”

He added: “We hope this further investment alongside staff discounts and free food and drink while working, will go some way in helping our teams through the winter months and beyond.”