Pret a Manger is raising the cost of its subscription service by 20% as the sandwich chain warned inflationary challenges remain.
The popular food and drink takeout said its subscription service, which first launched in September 2020, will be rebranded Club Pret and will now cost £30 a month, up from £25.
In an email to existing subscribers informing them that the £5 increase would kick in from 5 June onwards, Pret said: "No business wants to raise prices, but of the new subscription price, around £1 will cover increasing ingredient prices, £2 will go towards Pret team pay, and around £2 will help with rising energy costs."
The new deal will include up to five barista-prepared drinks a day – the same as under the existing subscription offer – as well as 10% off everything else sold in Pret’s stores, except at some service stations.
Drinks included in the offer are coffee, tea, hot chocolate and iced drinks.
Chief executive, Pano Christou, said Pret a Manger may have to put wages up again this year – after a 19% rise in the past year – amid stiff competition for workers.
“We will continue to look after our people in this very challenging time,” he said. Christou claimed Pret did not have staffing issues as its pay was “more attractive than the competition”.
Pret pointed out that costs have jumped, with the wholesale price of milk paid by Pret up 16%, coffee 48% and crisps 125%.
Some products have fallen by the wayside – the salmon and mango salad has been dropped after a 40% rise in the price of salmon.
“We are in an inflationary challenge right now.” Christou said. “We are not passing everything on and we are not seeing the same sort of percentage of inflation as the supermarkets.”
Christou said recent strike action on public transport and at schools had hit sales, as they had interrupted people’s plans.