Pret A Manger

Pret A Manger is a food business that first opened in London in 1986. Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair Beecham (the founders of Pret A Manger) set up The Pret Foundation Trust (PFT) in 1995. "Although Pret has been owned since 2008 by Bridgepoint, a private equity firm – before them, McDonald's had a 33 per cent stake between 2001 and 2008 – Metcalfe remains a guiding spirit in his role as consultant on matters of style and food." In 2001, Pret controversially sold a 33% stake to burger chain McDonald's for £50m, funding rapid expansion overseas.
 * CEO - Clive Schlee (since 2003)

Board
Accessed May 2013:

Contact
Web: http://www.pret.com

Criticism

 * Paul Myerscough, "Short Cuts"' London Review of Books, 3 January 2013.
 * Timothy Noah, "Labor of Love The enforced happiness of Pret A Manger", New Republic, February 1, 2013.
 * "Revealed: Pret a Manger's bizarre 'emotional labour' rules for workers who are told to 'be happy', touch each other and NEVER act moody"

Related Sourcewatch

 * William Jackson
 * Nicky Fisher, head of sustainability