Pret A Manger signs franchise agreement with A&W to kickstart Canadian expansion

The first shop to trial the brand will be in Vancouver and plans to open this summer.

Pret A Manger’s introduction in the Canadian market further materialized, having agreed to give A&W the master franchisor rights to expand the sandwich and coffee brand across the country.

A&W Food Services of Canada Inc. said it is moving forward with a two-year pilot of the Pret brand in Canada to introduce it within A&W restaurants in select markets.

The news follows an initial agreement between the two parties less than a year ago.

“We are excited to introduce Pret’s fresh and delicious menu range in a select number of A&W restaurants this year. We believe Canadian consumers will respond very positively and come to love the Pret brand and all that it represents” said Susan Senecal, chief executive officer of A&W Revenue Royalties Income Fund and A&W Food Services.

Pano Christou, CEO at Pret A Manger, added: “We know Canadians have long been calling for Pret in their community. Thanks to this new partnership, we’re finally able to bring our freshly made food and 100% organic coffee to Canada as part of a two-year trial.”

The A&W restaurant locations that will participate in the two-year trial phase are expected to launch a Pret menu range and organic coffees in the second quarter of 2022, with the first location opening within an A&W in Vancouver this summer. 

If the trial phase is successful, Food Services will have the exclusive right to expand the Pret brand across Canada based on “an agreed upon development schedule.”