Chef Express, the company that manages all the catering activities of the Cremonini Group, has signed an exclusive agreement with Pret A Manger, the UK-based freshly made food and organic coffee chain, to launch the brand in Italy.
The first restaurant was opened today in Terminal 2 of the Milan Malpensa airport, the first of an ambitious development plan signed Chef Express-Pret A Mangèr that should lead to a total of about 40 openings in years. Three more openings are planned by the end of the year, including a second shop in the airport’s Terminal 1 and two more in the Grandi Stazioni Retail circuit.
Located in the departure area of Milan Malpensa Airport’s newly-rennovated Terminal 2, the new shop has created 25 new jobs and is open every day from early morning until 21:30-22:00.
The new partnership marks another step in Pret’s ambitious growth plan to double the size of its business, by expanding into new countries and regions around the world. Italy becomes the eigth country Pret has launched in since it announced plans to expand into five new markets by the end of 2023. Pret now has nearly 70 shops across Europe, including in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Ireland, and has also recently announced plans to open shops across Portugal and Spain.
With this new exclusive partnership, Chef Express confirms itself as an ideal platform to develop international restaurant brands in Italy in a multi-channel mode.
The menu
As in every Pret shop, Team Members will serve a menu of organic coffee and freshly made food prepared daily in the on-site kitchen using high quality and carefully sourced ingredients. Unsold food will be donated to local charities at the end of each day.
The menu at the Milan Malpensa location includes Pret’s famous sandwiches, such as the Pret Super Club with chicken breast, smoked bacon and fresh tomatoes, a wide variety of baguettes including the vegetarian Mature Cheddar & Onion Chutney, and the best-selling Chicken & Bacon with its delicious caesar dressing. Customers will also find wraps, soups and fresh salads on the menu, such as the Avocado, Wild Crayfish & Cucumber Bowl or the Smoked Salmon, Egg & Edamame Protein Bowl with fresh avocado and free-range eggs.
Breakfast and afternoon menus will offer freshly baked viennoiseries and pastries, hot savoury croissants, yoghurts and fruit pots, smoothies and a wide range of refreshing drinks. Pret treats, such as cookies, muffins and bars, will also be available alongside barista-prepared drinks, including Lattes, Cappuccinos, Mochas, served hot or iced, as well as organic coffee and teas, with milk and dairy alternatives on offer.
Cristian Biasoni, CEO of Chef Express, said: “We are very pleased to partner with Pret A Manger to bring the most famous chain for fresh food and organic coffee to Italy. Our family approach and values, combined with almost 40 years of history and the valuable expertise developed in all channels, are the basis of our success in the catering sector in Italy. With this new agreement, which adds to our partnerships with McDonald’s and Wagamama, Chef Express confirms itself as the ideal partner for the multichannel development of international brands in Italy”.
Pano Christou, chief executive officer at Pret A Manger, said: “We know Pret has a huge fanbase in Europe, so I’m delighted to be bringing our freshly made food and organic coffee to even more people across the continent. Launching in Italy is a big moment for us and something I’ve been personally looking forward to. We’re excited to be working with Chef Express to help us introduce the Pret experience to people in Milan first, then across the country.”
Luigi Battuello, SEA’s non aviation commercial director, said: “With Pret A Manger we enrich the catering offer of Terminal 2 with a well-known brand. We are happy with this opening in our airport because it coincides with their debut in Italy and we can thus offer an absolute news to our passengers, who will appreciate the fresh gastronomic choice together with the philosophy of the well-known English brand. With Pret A Manger, the recently re-opened Terminal 2 offers passengers a new food and social experience, soon to be available also in Terminal 1.”
Address: Terminal 2, Milan Malpensa Airport, Ferno (VA)
Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday and Saturday: 04:00 – 21:30
Friday and Sunday: 04:00 – 22:00
