Pret a Manger has revealed plans to axe 400 jobs and close 6 London stores after a slump in sales.
The sandwich chain has struggled since people have switched to homeworking and city centres have seen a reduction in footfall.
Sales at Pret A Manger have fallen to their lowest in a decade due to the pandemic. The group has not specified which London branches will close but they will add to the 30 shop closures announced in August.
Clare Clough, who is the UK managing director of the chain, said: “It’s absolutely right that we take steps to stop the spread of the virus and tackle the new wave of infections. Sadly, the result of the rise in infections and the necessary shift in public health guidance mean that our recovery has slowed.
“We’ve said all along that it’s up to Pret to decide our own future and that we must adapt to the new situation we find ourselves in. That’s why we have to make these further changes as we continue to transform our business model and prepare for the six months ahead.”
The 30 closures announced in August led to the loss of 2,900 jobs.
Pret A Manger has launched a new coffee subscription service offering up to five drinks a day for £20 a month.
Pano Christou, the chief executive at Pret, said: “There’s no doubt that workers will come into the office less often than beforehand. Pret needs to adapt itself to the changes of customer patterns and that’s where we’ve been very focused.”