The death of the office lunch? A cultural and corporate history of Pret a Manger

The death of the office lunch? A cultural and corporate history of Pret a Manger

As the sandwich shop turns to supermarket ranges, coffee subscriptions and suburban branches to stay afloat, Harry Shukman asks: is this the end of the speedy weekday lunch?

Words: Harry Shukman

The well-heeled shoppers of Earl’s Court would have been forgiven for doing a double-take when they stepped into their local Tesco superstore this May. After a year and a bit of working from home – and avoiding the daily self-flagellation of the modern office lunch – it would have been a confusing sight to see the installation of Pret a Manger right there in the supermarket, appearing suddenly and unexpectedly, much like the bloodthirsty stalker that hounds Elisabeth Moss in The Invisible Man.

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