Sandwich chain Pret A Manger is abandoning the idea of vegetarian-only outlets, saying people are buying veggie options at all its branches. The final three Veggie Pret stores, in London and Manchester, will switch to normal Prets by the end of this month. The specialist outlets, first launched eight years ago, were no longer needed, the company said. "Every Pret is a Veggie Pret shop," said Katherine Bagshawe, UK food and coffee director at Pret A Manger. One in every three main meals sold was now vegetarian or vegan, she said. The veggie stores had acted as an "innovation hub" Pret added, launching new products including most recently a "VLT" sandwich which replaces the bacon in a traditional BLT with mushroom "rashers" and a Thai-inspired sticky mushroom Banh Mi baguette and meatless meatballs. There has been a huge rise in interest in vegan and vegetarian food in recent years, prompted by both health considerations and concerns over the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from meat and dairy production. Pret first launched its veggie outlets in 2016, helping to boost its image as a vegetarian-friendly brand. Most of the 10 veggie shops were in London, with some in Oxford and Manchester.
