The premium food-to-go and low chain’s regional development technique has shifted gears with a first-ever drive-thru outlet
Pret A Manger has entered the fast-growing UK drive-thru espresso market in a bid to develop its presence in high-footfall journey hubs and roadside areas.
The JAB Holding-backed food-to-go and low chain at the moment operates 500 UK shops and opened its first drive-thru globally in Warrington, Cheshire, on 5 Might 2026.
The outlet, launched in partnership with forecourt operator Motor Gas Group, includes a single drive-thru lane, EV charging and in-store seating for as much as 48 clients.
“Journey hubs and roadside areas current an enormous development alternative for Pret, making the launch of our first drive-thru a pure subsequent step in our growth. It’s all a part of our technique of assembly clients the place they’re,” stated Ross Warnes, President UK & Eire, Pret A Manger.
Photographs: Pret A Manger
In September 2025, Pret CEO Pano Christou outlined a aim to double the chain’s UK footprint to 1,000 websites by sharpening its deal with transport hubs and roadside areas. The London-based enterprise at the moment operates 220 shops throughout UK airports, practice stations and motorway service areas.
Drive-thru is the newest improvement in Pret’s regional development technique, which was initiated throughout the pandemic to diversify the chain’s long-standing deal with London workplace staff with neighbourhood and family-friendly shops.
It additionally opens a brand new competitors entrance with UK espresso store market leaders Costa Espresso and Starbucks, which have invested closely within the format lately.
World Espresso Portal analysis reveals that the UK drive-thru espresso store section grew 6.7% final yr to succeed in 912 websites and now makes up 7.4% of the overall UK branded espresso store market.
In March 2026, Costa reached 400 UK drive-thru websites and introduced plans to open 40 new areas by the tip of 2026. Nonetheless, it additionally warned that the section is turning into more and more advanced amid planning bottlenecks, rising improvement prices and heightened competitors.
Alongside Starbucks, which operates practically 400 UK drive-thru retailers, food-focused Greggs and Canadian chain Tim Hortons have additionally elevated their deal with drive-thru within the UK – with the format making up greater than 80% of the latter’s UK property.
Bewiched Espresso, Bayne’s and Caffé Nero have additionally launched UK drive-thrus lately, whereas specialty robusta chain Black Sheep Espresso is constructing a pipeline of drive-thru websites available in the market after testing the format at three retailers within the US.
