Sandwich shop Pret a Manger are the latest food and drink chain to announce major branch closures and job losses after suffering “significant operating losses” as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown.
The London company have confirmed that 30 branches will permanently close nationwide, with upto 1,000 jobs at risk.
Only 339 of their 410 branches have currently reopened following the Coronavirus outbreak but footfall has remained low, with sales 74% down on last year.
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Despite 8% of total UK sales now coming through online partnerships with Amazon, Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats, the recovery from the pandemic in the UK has been “much slower” compared with the other countries in which it trades and earlier lockdowns were implemented - Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Dubai, Singapore, China and Hong Kong.
Thankfully, all nine branches in Manchester remain unaffected.
