Fri 21st May 2021 - Pret to make petrol station debut Pret to make petrol station debut: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed chain, is to open new shops in petrol stations owned by Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the largest forecourt operator in the UK with more than 900 sites nationwide. Through the partnership, Pret will initially trial one shop in the MFG-owned and BP-branded station in Southgate, north London – its first foray into forecourts globally – with a view to opening a second shop by the end of 2022. Pret said the partnership with MFG marks another significant step in Pret’s transformation plan to bring the brand to more people. The shop in the MFG Southgate site will serve a menu of freshly prepared food and organic coffee and tea, all made in Pret’s full on-site kitchens throughout the day. Drinks will be prepared by baristas trained by Pret “for customers to enjoy so the same Pret experience of the high street is brought seamlessly to the forecourt”. Pret UK managing director Clare Clough said: “Since the start of the pandemic, we have looked for innovative ways to bring Pret to more people, and partnerships – such as this one – are an important part of this strategy.” MFG chief executive William Bannister added: “We are proud to become the first forecourt operator globally to welcome a Pret on site for consumers who want a more premium experience.” The partnership follows the launch of Pret’s first supermarket range, with Tesco. Pret has been exploring new shop formats to help customers access its offer on the road. In October 2020, Pret announced a new partnership with Moto, which will allow the company to expand its motorway service estate to three shops in the UK. The first shop at Cherwell Valley opened in December, followed by a second shop at Moto’s new Rugby service station, which opened last month.