The UK's next great export to Canada just landed in Toronto and it's making waves.
In only the past couple of months, Pret A Manger, famous for its freshly made sandwiches, salads and wraps, has launched two new pop-up spaces, one downtown and the other in North York, and plans to add two more in the new year.
Drawing in office workers and condo residents looking to pop down for a quick bite, the current pop-ups can be found inside the A&Ws at 60 John St. and 1010 Wilson Ave. and are part of a partnership between Pret A Manger and A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.
Pret's plentiful breakfast and lunch menu includes their Famous Ham & Cheese Baguette and Blackened Salmon, Avo & Grains Salad, which are prepared on-site using a separate kitchen space and made by Pret staff. There are also a variety of vegan and vegetarian options available, making the pop-up a popular choice during morning and midday lunch rushes.
The packaged fare is displayed neatly, with nutritional information and ingredients listed for quick and easy pick-up. You pay at the A&W counter and can even order a classic Teen Burger combo at the same time. Where the downtown location is concerned, they've even switched their A&W coffee to Pret's 100% organic blend.
The popular UK sandwich shop—with 550+ locations around the world—got its start in the heart of central London in 1986, serving busy city-goers looking for a delicious ready-to-eat meal, made from quality ingredients. After a successful debut in Vancouver, BC earlier this summer, Pret continued its Canadian tour by dipping its toes into the Toronto market. “We are very excited to see how well Pret is being received by customers in Vancouver and we look forward to continuing to build on this momentum with our second pop-up opening in Toronto with A&W," says Pano Christou, Chief Executive Officer at Pret A Manger.
Toronto customers have been equally excited, waiting patiently for Pret to make its way here, and now that it has there's more good news on the way. Adrian Cortez, manager of the John St. A&W/Pret tells TasteToronto that two new pop-ups will be opening in January, one at the A&W beside St. Lawrence Market and another by TMU (formerly Ryerson University). The new downtown spaces will cater to food lovers and university students alike, offering a more premium lunch and breakfast option to import into their daily routine.
Pret A Manger's pop-ups officially operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, but you can still place a phone order and have it made fresh up until 9:30 p.m.
