UK-based sandwich and coffee chain Pret A Manger is planning to double its presence in Germany, World Coffee Portal has reported.

For this expansion, the sandwich and coffee chain partnered with franchisee PM Nord.

The sandwich and coffee chain plans to open five new restaurants in Berlin by the end of this year.

The first two of the five sites are set to open in November 2023. The first will open at Friedrichstrasse, a cultural and retail hub and the second will open at the Sony Center at The Playce at Potsdamer Platz.

The remaining outlets are planned for Leipziger Platz, The Playce at Potsdamer Platz shopping centre and Steglitzer Schloßstraße.

In a statement, PM Nord said: “Following the success of our shops in German transport hubs, launching the Pret brand in downtown Berlin is a major milestone in our European expansion.

“We’ve long heard that locals would love to have a Pret in the city centre, so we’re delighted to be working with new franchise partner PM Nord GmbH to bring our freshly made food and organic coffee to more people and add something new to Berlin’s vibrant food-to-go scene.”

The café company forayed into the German market in 2018 by opening its first restaurant at Berlin Central Station. It currently operates four locations across Frankfurt, Berlin and Düsseldorf.

The opening of new restaurants is part of Pret A Manger’s expansion strategy to double its brand footprint by 2026.

Earlier this month, Pret A Manger entered into a new joint venture partnership with its existing franchisee, Dallas International (Dallas), to expedite the brand's growth in the US.

The company aims to expand its footprint further through new equity shops and additional franchise agreements.

The restaurant brand currently has a workforce of 9,900 team members in 15 international markets, including Belgium, Canada, Dubai, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK and the US.