Inside the famous international fast-food restaurant that launched in South Africa

BusinessTech visited the new Pret a Manger restaurant that opened its doors in Melrose Arch on Friday, 14 February 2025, and it delivered exactly what it promised.

Pret a Manger is a British multinational sandwich and coffee shop fast-food franchise known colloquially as Pret.

The company was founded in 1983 and grew to 697 locations worldwide, including 498 in the United Kingdom and 62 in the United States.

The company promotes itself by serving freshly made food and good organic coffee while also trying to do the right thing.

It offers a wide-ranging menu that includes sandwiches, salads, wraps, baked goods, snacks, and an array of organic coffees, teas and other hot and cold beverages.

In February 2024, the Millat Group signed a deal with Pret a Manger for the exclusive licence to operate its franchise stores in Southern Africa.

Millat said the deal forms part of its long-term strategy to expand into the sector by offering customers access to organic and sustainable food.

“Pret A Manger has the best in class offering of organic grab and go and a food service offering that stands out,” Millat Group CEO Hamza Farooqui said.

Pret A Manger chief executive Pano Christou was upbeat about bringing the franchise to South Africa, describing it as a milestone in their international expansion.

Christou visited South Africa ahead of the launch on 14 February 2025 and sampled the food on the local menu.

He explained that the new location has a South African chef with whom the company has been working to curate a menu intended to connect with locals.

The South African menu contains food with much more spice than in Europe, including items with chakalaka in the flavour profiles.

He added that Pret priced its products in South Africa to ensure it is competitive and offers value for money to consumers.

Although Pret is not trying to be the cheapest fast food outlet in South Africa, it focuses on offering value for money.

“Pret must ensure that when a consumer visits its store and gets served by our staff, they must feel that the experience was great value for money,” he said.

To ensure good customer service, Pret a Manger South Africa sent its employees on six weeks of hands-on training in Hong Kong.

“From perfecting our service to mastering every element of our menu, we’re committed to bringing the best of Pret’s renowned quality and customer care to South Africa,” it said.

Despite all the preparation and work to ensure the first South African Pret outlet is on par with global standards, it is only the start.

“The acid test will be when we open our first location in South Africa and we start connecting with the local consumers,” Christou said.

“It will tell us how far we got things right and where we made mistakes. There will be mistakes from which we will learn.”

Visiting the first Pret a Manger in South Africa

BusinessTech visited the Pret a Manger store in Melrose Arch after its launch, and it was exactly what the fast-food franchise promised.

The venue had live music with a DJ, which can be expected as it was the launch weekend for Pret a Manger in South Africa.

There was a lot of signage around the restaurant, and it was particularly busy, even though it was relatively early in the morning.

Pret offered a range of grab-and-go pre-packaged foods, including cold sandwiches, hot toasties, and numerous wraps.

A footlong chicken baguette costs R62.00, a Haloumi and Falafel wrap was R64.00, and a classic cheese toasty will set you back R55.00.

There are also unique South African products, like a Braaibroodjie for R55.00 and a Chakalaka Chicken wrap for R64.00.

These products are all freshly made daily to ensure alignment with Pret a Manger’s promise of quality and fresh food.

The Melrose Arch Plet offers eight organic coffees, ranging from a Latte, Cappuccino, and Americano to a Mocha and Flat White.

Coffee prices start at R27.00 for a small Americano or White Americano to R49.00 for a large Mocha or Spanish Latte.

People can select three organic milk alternatives for their coffee if they prefer, including oat, almond, or soya milk.

Also on the beverage menu is Organic Hot Chocolate, Organic Iced Coffee, Organic Teas, Coffee Frappes, and Real Fruit Juices.

The prices for these beverages align with the coffee prices. At the high end, a Coffee Frappe or Organic Iced Coffee costs R49.00.

The images below show the new Pret a Manger South Africa restaurant in Melrose Arch and what it offers clients.

Pret a Manger in Melrose Arch