Pret to expand to India with up to 100 stores planned over next five years: Pret A Manger is to launch in India with up to 100 shops expected to open in the country over the next five years. Pret has partnered with Reliance Brands, which will see Pret stores open across the country starting with major cities and travel hubs. About ten shops are planned in the first year. Pret A Manger, French for ‘ready to eat', first opened in London in 1986 and now has 550 shops globally across nine markets including the UK, US, Europe, and Asia. As India’s largest luxury to premium retailer, Reliance Brands has over 14 years nurtured and grown global brands in the country. This is its first foray into the food industry. Pano Christou, chief executive of Pret, said: “Two decades ago, we opened Pret’s first shop in Asia and it’s been an inspiration for all of us to bring our freshly made food and 100% organic coffee to new cities across the continent. Reliance Brands is a great partner to help us do just that, bringing its years of expertise in the market to help our brand succeed in India. We’re looking forward to working with it on what is our most ambitious global franchise partnership to date.” Darshan Mehta, managing director of Reliance Brands, added: “Our partnership with Pret is rooted in the strong growth potential of both Pret as a brand as also of the food and beverage industry in India. Reliance Brands closely follows the pulse of Indian consumers and there is an increased consciousness of what we eat – rapidly making Food the new Fashion. Indians, like their global counterparts, are seeking Fresh and Organic ingredient-led dining experiences which has been synonymous with Pret’s core offering. Couple that with the high recall the brand enjoys in the country, it’s undoubtedly a recipe for success.” Pret features in Propel’s Turnover & Profits Blue Book, which is updated monthly for Premium subscribers and now features 588 companies. Pret has turned over an average of £586m in the past five years. The Blue Book, which is produced in association with Mapal Group, provides a five-year overview of turnover and profit, ranks companies according to turnover, pre-tax profit and profit conversion. The Blue Book also provides details of directors’ earnings and highest paid directors. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £895 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £445 plus VAT for operators and £545 plus VAT for suppliers. Email jo.charity@propelinfo.com to sign up.