Pret signs two new UK franchise partners: Pret A Manger, the JAB Holdings-backed business, has signed two new franchise partners in the UK. Dallas Holdings, which has worked to enhance customer experiences globally across multiple brands, and K&Z Holdings, a family-run, multi-unit franchise business, have gone through a “rigorous interview process to ensure they’re the right cultural and digital fit for Pret”. Overall, eight shops will be transferred to the new franchise partners in spring 2022. The Guildford, Bournemouth, Basingstoke and Woking shops will be transferred to K&Z Holdings, and Pret’s four shops in Oxford will be transferred to Dallas Holdings. Pret chief executive Pano Christou said: “Demand for our freshly prepared food and organic coffee is growing, with some shops busier than they’ve ever been. To meet that demand, we’re establishing new partnerships with franchisees to bring Pret to more people. Our agreements with Dallas Holdings and K&Z Group are a vital part of that ambition and will help kickstart our growth in different parts of the country. We’re really pleased they’ll be joining us on this journey, helping to spread Pret joy to more customers.” Dallas chief executive Shane Thakrar added: “Having partnered with some of the biggest brands for many years, partnering to rollout across the UK and elsewhere, we are very excited to join with Pret. We believe we have some great joint opportunities ahead for our customers and the wonderful teams at our stores. With our shared ethical and sustainable visions for growth, we’re very much looking forward to working together for the long term.” Shahaz Nanji, managing director of K&Z Holdings, said: “Our journey of success from a single store to a multi-store operator is based on our commitment to creating a powerful, family culture coupled with world-class operations. It’s these traits that we’re delighted to bring to our new partnership with Pret.” The news follows an agreement in August with Pret’s latest regional franchisee partner, The Chesterford Group, and is part of an ambitious plan to double the size of the business within the next five years, bringing Pret to more people across the UK and beyond. The company recently announced it would also be expanding to open more than 200 shops in the UK in next two years in both regional and suburban areas. As part of that plan, Pret plans to roll out a recruitment programme, aiming to hire at least 3,000 team members and baristas by the end of 2023. Earlier today (Tuesday, 30 November), Pret launched the pilot of its first loyalty scheme, Pret Perks. The scheme will be rolled out in phases, with Pret coffee subscribers getting early access to the loyalty programme as part of its beta testing.