Pret A Manger, the coffee and sandwich chain that has been serving customers since 1986, has more than 700 locations worldwide, with 527 of those in the UK. Despite its widespread popularity, many customers have only just discovered what its French name means in English.
The revelation came after a Quora user asked: "What does Pret A Manger mean?" The question prompted several responses explaining the translation.
What does Pret A Manger mean?
One user commented: "Pret A Manger is a French phrase that translates to 'ready to eat' in English. The name reflects the company's focus on providing freshly prepared food and drinks that are convenient for customers to grab and enjoy on the go. Pret A Manger is known for its sandwiches, salads, soups, and coffee, emphasising quality and sustainability in its offerings."
Another user added: "The name means 'ready to eat' in French and is a nod to prêt-à-porter, which means 'ready to wear' in the fashion world. But a name, however it's pronounced, isn't everything. Pret A Manger wants to capture a wider audience who care about becoming a little healthier, but still get their food fast."
A third user said: "It is a play on the phrase 'pret a porter' which means ready to wear, primarily in women's fashion. The implication is no waiting time (versus tailor-made clothes). Pret a Manger means ready to eat - same idea."
New menu items at Pret
The news comes as Pret A Manger introduces a new £4.99 Pick your Pair lunch deal, featuring new warm ciabattas and seasonal coffees.
New items include the Warm Three Cheese and Tomato Ciabatta, filled with Cheddar, mozzarella, and Italian-style cheese on a bed of red tapenade, topped with roasted tomatoes and basil; the Warm Chicken Caesar Bacon Ciabatta, with chicken and bacon in Caesar dressing topped with Grevé cheese and spring onion; and the Warm Beef Birria and Jalapeno Ciabatta, featuring beef birria, black bean mole, and cream cheese, topped with peppers, spring onion, and jalapeños.
The menu also includes a Spinach and Feta Pastry, a Bacon, Cheese, and Jalapeño Pastry, Creamy Roast Chicken soup, Butter Chicken soup, Loaded Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread, Banana Cinnamon Porridge, and three new cookies: Chocolate Hazelnut Praline, Triple Chocolate, and Raspberry and White Chocolate.
For drinks, Pret has added a Toasted Marshmallow Latte, Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate, and a Pumpkin Spiced Latte, all available as part of the seasonal offering.
