Any traveller who’s had to wait in a European train station, or wandered down a British High Street, will be familiar with the global sandwich chain Pret A Manger. And the big news out this week is that this iconic brand will be opening in South Africa in 2024.
It will be the first African outing for Pret A Manger – which means ‘Ready to Eat’ in French – which currently runs 650 stores in 18 countries.
That is, you’ll agree, a whole lot of Crayfish & Rocket sandwiches.
Because love ‘em or hate ‘em, devouring a Pret sandwich has become a rite of passage for many travellers heading abroad. The BLT is legendary. The Crayfish & Rocket is for when you’re feeling flush. The Egg Mayo and cress is for when you’re not. Of course, the menu also runs to salads, wraps, hot rolls and organic coffee.
Pret’s arrival is thanks to a partnership with the local Millat Group, which has signed the licence to open Pret stores across South Africa and has bold plans for expansion.
Although the first Pret A Manger store is set to open in Johannesburg, Millat promises rapid expansion to South Africa’s key cities including Durban, Pretoria and – of course! - Cape Town. We reckon the smart bet is on the first branch opening in the V&A Waterfront.
'Pret A Manger has the best in class offering of organic grab-and-go and a food service offering that stands out. This partnership is in line with Millat’s strategy of bringing global brands into South Africa,' said Millat Group's CEO Hamza Farooqui.
Pret's arrival also comes hot on the heels of global food brands including Paul Patisserie and Starbucks, which you can now find across Cape Town, from the Muizenberg beachfront to the malls in Claremont. Frankly though? We prefer the handcrafted brews on offer at Nøsh at the Time Out Market Cape Town.
Prefer your brands homegrown? Check out the new Veldskoen museum.