The UK will soon see the debut of Pret A Manger’s first drive-thru, a strategic move by the company to compete with established coffee chains such as Costa and Starbucks, which have already ventured into this approach.

Pano Christou, the head of Pret A Manger, revealed plans to expand into more locations, including motorway services and airports, with a potential for 300 to 400 Pret travel sites in the future. The inaugural Pret drive-thru is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2026, likely situated at a motorway service area.

Christou expressed the uniqueness of Pret’s fresh product offerings as the driving force behind exploring drive-thru outlets, emphasizing the distinctive appeal compared to competitors.

While detailed plans are yet to be finalized, the introduction of drive-thru locations will align Pret with major coffee chains like Starbucks and Costa, each boasting over 300 drive-thru sites across the UK.

Established in London in 1986, Pret has expanded globally to over 700 locations in 21 countries. In addition to drive-thrus, Pret is gearing up to introduce meal deals, a new initiative to cater to evolving consumer demands in a shifting market landscape.

The meal deals trend, already popular in supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s, is set to make its way to Pret in the near future, offering customers more value and choice. Christou highlighted the brand’s evolution from a white-collar customer base to a more diverse and inclusive clientele over time, reflecting on his own journey from assistant manager to leading the chain.