Pret A Manger will test a meal‑deal format in the final three months of this year as it seeks to boost its lunchtime trade and offer better value for customers. The sandwich and coffee chain said trials will start next week and will include deals such as a croissant with a drink, and a sandwich, drink and crisps, with prices tested to gauge consumer response. The move follows long‑running meal deals offered by major supermarkets, including Tesco, which recently hiked its deal price by 25p amid food‑price pressures.

Pret’s annual accounts show a pre‑tax loss of £525.2 million for the year to 2 January, after £552.9 million of write‑downs tied to a reassessment of the business by owner JAB. This compares with a £61.7 million loss in the previous year. The figures show earnings before adjustments up 36% to £98 million, while total revenue fell 4.2% to £868.4 million. Like‑for‑like sales rose by 2.8% as Pret expanded internationally, with the store estate growing 11% to 717 outlets.

Chief executive Pano Christou said Pret’s aim is to drive transactions and sustainable growth by offering value for money. He said the group expects to expand from about 500 UK sites to between 1,000 and 1,500, with further growth planned in city centres, travel hubs and roadside locations as it widens in the United Kingdom and the United States, including New York.