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The Rise and Fall of Pret a Manger

wired.co.uk

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Re: The Rise and Fall of Pret a Manger

#101

Post by Chris_Newton »

barry-cotter wrote: post #92
Chris_Newton wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Europe, speaking multiple languages to a useful level is completely normal. They really are much better at that than we (Brits) are, and the decision to drop the language requirements we did have in schools has always seemed like a backward step to me. I doubt Pret’s name really makes much difference to who it appeals to, though. It’s a well-known brand, but if you’re selling sandwiches and co…

> Meanwhile, elsewhere in Europe, speaking multiple languages to a useful level is completely normal. If they were more useful many more Brits would speak foreign languages to a useful level. I can get by in French and German and I can read Spanish. It’s been of extremely limited use to me except when I lived in Germany. English OTOH is the world’s favorite second language and the language of science and internationa…

From a purely utilitarian point of view, I can’t argue with that. If almost everyone speaks English and your only goal is to be able to communicate effectively, a native English-speaker gains little from learning any other language. I suppose the benefits I have found in studying other languages are more subjective.

For example, I enjoy travelling and exploring other cultures. If I’m going to be spending some time in someone else’s community, I feel both a little vulnerable and a little… inconsiderate?… if I haven’t studied at least the rudiments of their language and culture before I go. Sometimes the locals seem to appreciate it if we’ve made the effort as well, even if we’re obviously tourists and only able to do basic things like ordering lunch or simply being polite and friendly using their language. And of course, not everyone speaks English, particularly once you move away from the main tourist areas.

Sometimes I also find it interesting to see foreign perspectives on current events. Brexit is the obvious recent example given I’m a Brit, but more generally, I think it’s healthy to see different views of international relations or global issues from time to time, and sometimes also to understand the domestic politics of our geographic neighbours and our foreign partners in trade or other matters.

As a rather different point to end on, I think studying languages in school can also be helpful just for expanding the young mind. It requires being able to see things from different points of view and to think logically, and I think those are healthy characteristics to develop in general. IMHO, school at that age shouldn’t just be about memorising raw facts and figures and about learning economically valuable skills.

Re: The Rise and Fall of Pret a Manger

#102

Post by pbhjpbhj »

vinay427 wrote: post #93
fh973 wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

During my last London trip, I had the impression that they mostly employ young people from all over Europe. I suspect they will all be gone end of year.

Can't EU/EEA/CH citizens living in the UK before the end of the transition period apply for settled or pre-settled status depending on how long they've been there? There's no reason they would be forced to leave, if so, although of course some may choose to do so anyways.

I doubt it's career sandwich makers -- people may currently qualify through continuation but are probably doing the job as a short term (eg working through Uni). When they finish the next tranche of workers won't have established residency and so won't qualify for visas.

That aside, if someone is here under freedom of movement that doesn't mean they qualify for a work visa, surely? No low-skill jobs would meet the income threshold needed to get a visa?

Re: The Rise and Fall of Pret a Manger

#103

Post by Chris_Newton »

lordnacho wrote: post #100
Chris_Newton wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Now that WFH has been "discovered" it's doubtful. I mean if everyone works from home just one day a week, that's 20% fewer sandwiches they will need to buy. I’m not so sure. Just because you’re working from home, that doesn’t mean you want to spend a significant amount of time shopping for and preparing lots of different things for your lunches. If you were OK with that, you could easily have taken a packed lunch to…

Well you're certainly right that the economy will move. If it wasn't for the virus, I would have done even more business at one of the village pubs around here. I can see more than a few people just bringing their laptops to lunch, your local gastropub is nicer than Starbucks. The food trucks thing makes sense. I've also spoken to some people who run that type of business, and they probably have the best outcome of a…

The food trucks thing makes sense. I've also spoken to some people who run that type of business, and they probably have the best outcome of all the food businesses.

That makes sense. Out here in the villages, having the trucks visit is mutually beneficial, too. They provide a diversity of takeaway options that wouldn’t otherwise exist in the smaller communities. We provide lots of small markets who are generally welcoming when they’re coming to visit, and because they move from day to day, they can be successful with a smaller menu that makes sense to offer from the truck. Everybody wins.

I'm not sure it will be so easy for Pret/etc to move out to the suburbs. Name recognition is all they bring, nobody thinks a Pret sandwich is particularly good.

I doubt it will be businesses like Pret that come out well from the change in lifestyle, assuming it does happen as we’re imagining here. The brand represents a safe bet when you’re visiting somewhere unfamiliar, and that probably has a lot of value. But if many of us are staying closer to home, we’ll probably get to know our local places pretty quickly anyway, and then that name recognition for the big brands and their franchises just isn’t that important any more. As you say, the likes of Pret might be worse off, but the rest of us will probably be better off.

Re: The Rise and Fall of Pret a Manger

#104

Post by matthewmacleod »

HenryBemis wrote: post #96
Gustek wrote: post #40

I used to work at the Pret during my student years. All employees, we were very puzzled by why Pret is so popular and why are they willing to pay so much for the food. Today with a better-paid job, when in the centre and need to get a quick snack, Pret is often my choice. End of the day they have good food and offer good service. You hear many stories about people who used to work for McD and they say they will never…

Being an on and off customer since 1998, I was fascinated by the idea that I can walk in and pick a sandwich out of 20-50-100 combinations (I honestly don't remember how many options were available but I remember it as "oh sooooo many!!!". I treated it as a snack. Once I moved back to London some years back I was (negatively) surprised that MANY people consider lunch to be: "1 sandwich +1 bad of crisps/chips +1 sugar…

The idea that what’s essentially a regular sandwich shop (and not one particularly notable for pushing “chips” or “sugary soft drinks”) is in any real way contributing to obesity in the UK is laughable.

Re: The Rise and Fall of Pret a Manger

#105

Post by vinay427 »

pbhjpbhj wrote: post #102
vinay427 wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't EU/EEA/CH citizens living in the UK before the end of the transition period apply for settled or pre-settled status depending on how long they've been there? There's no reason they would be forced to leave, if so, although of course some may choose to do so anyways.

I doubt it's career sandwich makers -- people may currently qualify through continuation but are probably doing the job as a short term (eg working through Uni). When they finish the next tranche of workers won't have established residency and so won't qualify for visas. That aside, if someone is here under freedom of movement that doesn't mean they qualify for a work visa, surely? No low-skill jobs would meet the in…

They're not required to apply for a work visa if they're already in the UK. The process is infinitely easier to receive pre-settled/settled status.

https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/eu-londoners-hub/settle...

Re: The Rise and Fall of Pret a Manger

#106

Post by jayflux »

throrthaway wrote: post #17

Just in case people don't know, although the name sounds French I've literally never seen one in France. I guess it's like Mexico's Taco Bell or something

There are actually prets in France (Paris has some). But they’re rare, not on every corner like in London.

Re: The Rise and Fall of Pret a Manger

#108

Post by renewiltord »

switch11 wrote: post #68
scubbo wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I couldn't possible disagree more. Pret is orders of magnitude better than Specialty's - their breakfast sandwiches were 90% grease. Working Girls is certainly better than Pret, but Pret wins on convenience of being premade. And Pret does coffee too!

yeah wonder how many of the people claiming Pret a Manger is worse than 7-11 have actually ever eaten at Pret a Manger

I lived there. I ate at Pret often enough because they were frequently close by. Every one of those was worse than a Tesco Meal Deal. Disaster of a chain.

Re: The Rise and Fall of Pret a Manger

#109

Post by palae »

Arn_Thor wrote: post #99
crazygringo wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're basing that, I assume, on the US Recommended Daily Allowance for protein which is 0.8g protein/kg body weight -- or 65 g for your example of a 180 lb person. But this metric is widely misunderstood [1] -- "it’s the minimum amount you need to keep from getting sick — not the specific amount you are supposed to eat every day." If you follow the link, you'll see that doctors actually recommend around double that…

"Rodriguez was among more than 40 nutrition scientists who gathered in Washington, D.C., for a “Protein Summit” to discuss research on protein and human health. The summit was organized and sponsored by beef, egg, and other animal-based food industry groups" I mean...

Yes, and here is what's at the end of the linked paper:

"She has received research grant support from The Beef Checkoff and the National Dairy Council and compensation for speaking engagements with The Beef Checkoff and the National Dairy Council"

Re: The Rise and Fall of Pret a Manger

#110

Post by TheOtherHobbes »

matthewmacleod wrote: post #104
HenryBemis wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being an on and off customer since 1998, I was fascinated by the idea that I can walk in and pick a sandwich out of 20-50-100 combinations (I honestly don't remember how many options were available but I remember it as "oh sooooo many!!!". I treated it as a snack. Once I moved back to London some years back I was (negatively) surprised that MANY people consider lunch to be: "1 sandwich +1 bad of crisps/chips +1 sugar…

The idea that what’s essentially a regular sandwich shop (and not one particularly notable for pushing “chips” or “sugary soft drinks”) is in any real way contributing to obesity in the UK is laughable.

It really isn't. Small sandwich + crisps + sugary soda or coffee >= 700 calories, which is around twice what someone sedentary needs for lunch unless they start their day with a decent run. Add a chocolate bar and you're over 800. Start with a bigger roll or a wrap instead of a small sandwich and you're over 900.

It's also a huge carb hit, which is not ideal for staying awake later. And it's low in bulk, which will lead to snacking later.

All of this gets worse as you get older and your metabolism slows down. It's sort-of-ok for someone in their twenties, but literally lethal for someone in their fifties.

Pret are at the better end of the spectrum, and they also sell salad-related items which are less of a problem.

But this kind of sandwich lunch culture in general is a huge contributor to obesity. It doesn't look like a lot of food, it doesn't really fill you up, but it is a lot of calories.

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