Pret A Manger Opens Vegetarian Pop Up
The brand has launched its Little Veggie Pop Up in Broadwick Street, Soho and its doors will be open until the end of June.
Pret has created 45 new vegetarian and vegan recipes for the much mooted store, including open rye sandwiches, courgetti and cauliflower rice “plant pots”, and savoury yoghurt bowls.
Customers will get to vote for which new recipes have “hit the spot” or “lost the plot” using iPads and a special voting wall in the shop, and via social media using #VeggiePret. The most popular dishes could be introduced to Pret’s nationwide menu once the pop up has ended.
Last year Pret saw sales of its vegetarian products gain double digit growth. Pret’s CEO, Clive Schlee, asked customers on his blog what the company could do to create more delicious vegetarian food. Over 10,000 customers voted on the subject and Pret has responded by increasing its vegetarian and vegan ranges and launching a Not Just For Veggies campaign to highlight that vegetarian food can be enjoyed by everyone.
Pret’s CEO, Clive Schlee, said, “We believe that if vegetarian food was more delicious, attractive and available, more people would choose to eat it. This is the challenge we’ve set ourselves with our Little Veggie Pop Up, and we look forward to hearing what our customers have to say!”
Although Pret have only opened the store as a pop-up, they are likely on to a winner, as it comes amid growing demand for vegetrian food by consumers, particularly the young. A survey conducted by Vegetarian Exporess found that 58% of respondents wanted to see more vegetarian options when eating out. Other brands have also seen the potential, with Le Pain Quotidien opening a vegetarian only outlet in Ghent last year.
