Pret Manger expands high-protein menu nationwide in biggest refresh in years

Pret A Manger has put high protein at the center of its latest nationwide menu overhaul, rolling out new options across the United Kingdom on 28 April in what the chain says is its biggest refresh in years. The move shows how protein is moving from wellness buzzword to everyday menu architecture at a major food-to-go operator that serves commuters, office workers and grab-and-go lunch buyers.

The spring update lands under Pret’s seasonal push for “lighter days and sunnier skies,” with the company promising “Half sizes, new recipes, or a triple flavour feast” across the range. Pret’s home page now frames its seasonal food and snacks around “colourful ingredients and plenty of protein,” a sign that protein is no longer being treated as a niche add-on but as part of the brand’s core selling message.

That shift is visible in the menu itself. Pret’s navigation now includes a dedicated “Super Plates & Salads” section and a separate “protein pots” section, making protein part of the way the chain organizes its offer rather than a one-off claim on a single product. Pret says its Super Plates were crafted by its in-house Head of Food and Registered Nutritionist to “keep you fuller for longer,” and were designed for customers seeking “more substantial on-the-go options.”

The Super Plates launch included larger Golden Roasted Salmon portions and nine new unique premium ingredients, a clear sign that Pret is using recipe build and portion structure, not just branding, to make the category feel more filling and more premium. That matters in a market where portable meals need to work across breakfast, lunch and late-afternoon snacking, especially when shoppers want something that feels lighter without sacrificing satiety.

Pret’s financial performance helps explain the bet. The company said global system sales rose 10% to £1.2bn in 2024, up from £1.1bn in 2023, and that 2023 same-store sales grew 15%. Pret also said it hit its 2023 growth target three years ahead of schedule, then outlined a new medium-term strategy focused on accelerating growth in the UK and key international markets.

For a chain built on coffee and sandwiches, the latest update suggests protein is becoming a permanent part of the playbook. Pret is not testing a standalone wellness line in a corner of the business; it is using its spring menu cycle to broaden breakfast, lunch and snack dayparts with higher-protein builds that can travel across the full food-to-go occasion.