Wed 15th Apr 2020 - Pret to reopen ten sites tomorrow for delivery and takeaway, restarts supply chain Pret to reopen ten sites tomorrow for delivery and takeaway, restarts supply chain: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed business, is to follow in the footsteps of KFC and reopen a select number of its sites tomorrow (Thursday, 16 April) for delivery and takeaway. The Pano Christou-led business said it would reopen ten shop kitchens located near London hospitals after requests from NHS workers. It’s also reinstated the 50% discount for NHS workers until April. The company said the move would also allow it to restart its supply chain and donate about 7,000 meals a week to homeless charities. The shops will be offering a limited menu of some of the brand’s most popular sandwiches, salads and baguettes, as well as hot and cold drinks, baked goods, fruit and snacks such as crisps and bars. In addition, they will also be selling a selection of essential items, such as milk, butter, and tea. Shops will be open daily from 8am to 2pm. Pret said the shops would be staffed by team members who have volunteered – and it has 160 team members who will be working across the tern shops. It said tall UK employees would continue to get 100% of their pay until the end of April, regardless of whether they had volunteered to work in the reopened shops. All volunteers have undergone a thorough interview to ensure they are fit to return to work, but those living with anyone vulnerable will not be permitted to return. In terms of safety and social distancing measures, the company said there would be a designated pick-up point for delivery drivers, and separate doors will be used for deliveries and customers wherever possible. The company said: “One person in the kitchen will be nominated as a ‘kitchen runner’ who will get the products needed for each team member doing food preparation, in order to minimise the amount of movement in the kitchen. There will be limited benches that have been spaced apart, respecting social distancing guidelines. Restrictions will be put in place that will allow only one person in certain areas of the kitchen at any one time. Enhanced cleaning processes will include 30-minute sanitising of all hand contact surfaces. Protective Perspex screens will be fitted to the till counter. Only card payments will be allowed. Customer flow into the shop will be restricted, with no more than six customers at any one time. Customers will queue outside the shop at two metres apart from each other, with clear markings for queuing.” Christou said: “Since we temporarily closed our doors, our charity vans have donated 477,000 Pret items to 138 of our charity partners and 40 hospitals. But we’ve also been hearing from local NHS workers and hospitals that they want to be able to access freshly made food nearby. At the same time, our homeless charity partners and the Evening Standard, via its Food For London Now appeal, have made it clear more needs to be done to support vulnerable people through this epidemic. We have given some careful thought to how Pret could rise to this challenge, ensuring we do so safely and in line with government guidance.” The shops reopening are at Eagle House, 161 City Road; 35-37 Kings Road; St Georges Wharf in Vauxhall; 2-4 Circus Road, St Johns Wood; 14 Warren Street; 15 Brompton Road; ground floor, Jenner Wing, St Georges University of London; 367B Fulham Road; 3 Mitcham Road, Tooting Broadway; and St George’s Hospital, 136 Great Portland Street. Earlier this week, KFC reopened 11 of its restaurants across the UK for delivery – and is looking at the possibility of reopening further outlets. Propel understands Burger King is also set to follow suit and reopen a number of selected sites for delivery over the coming week, with an announcement due in a day or so.