To think 4.70 for a pret sandwich is too expensive?

[WaltonOnNaze]

A sandwich. Not a baguette or flatbread etc. am sure they used to be about £3.50 not so long ago.

The thing is, this sarnie isn't compatible to a freshly made pret one! The bread would be old after a few days. There's nothing vaguely fancy in it, it's very basic.

Which of course is fine. But totally not compatible. My current fave Pret one is this. www.pret.co.uk/en-GB/products/UK008517/scandi-style-salmon-rye-roll
Sooo good, and fresh. I couldn't be arsed to make that every morning, and wouldn't be able to source daily fresh bread to mimic it.

But, I only go there once a week. It's a daily treat.

NOT a daily treat I should say 🙂

Greggs latte today £2.40, couple months back they were £2.10, nothings cheap anymore unfortunately.

@blankittyblank that looks delicious

Some people here are really strangely defensive over pret. What’s hard to understand that they are expensive, they have been consistently putting up prices way before CoL/high inflation and in my opinion are mega overpriced. To be fair I never spent money on their sandwiches, more their hot snacks/soups/wraps etc. the prices of those are now exorbitant.

I really like pret and will happily pay a fiver for a sandwich every now and then. IMO the taste, better quality ingredients and the fact it’s made fresh each day make it worth it. Their ethics including the charity work also resonates with me. And they always seem to have a good choice of veggie and vegan options which I’m all for even though I eat meat.
I absolutely can tell the difference between them and a crappy Tesco sandwich. But at the end of the day everyone’s palates are different and some people really can’t taste the difference so fair enough 🤷‍♀️

I also don’t want a “deal” with a can of pop and a bag of crisps which is just junk I don’t need.

We all have different tastes and priorities ☺️

@blankittyblank - that's my favourite one as well. Soo tasty. Just a treat every now & again. DH likes the laksa soup.

Some people here are really strangely defensive over pret

It's not defensiveness, it's preference and taste. It's not like we all have shares in Pret! Their sandwiches are really, really nice, and imo the difference in quality, flavour, freshness and variety of fillings make the price difference compared with supermarket packaged sandwiches totally worth it. I don't buy them very often, so I don't really care that they are a bit expensive.

Supermarket sandwiches are crap. Sandwiches from posher supermarkets are slightly less crap, but still crap. The meat in Pret sandwiches actually tastes and feels like real meat, rather than the bland, rubbery stuff you get in supermarket ones.

Their Earl Grey tea is outstanding too.

Jesus that's a blast from the past. They used to do gorgeous tuna bagels.

No comparison between Pret sandwiches and supermarket ones in my mind.

Also given economies of scale, I can guarantee you that supermarkets are making more money as a % per sandwich than Pret are, given they ( Pret) make fresh every day and give the surplus to the homeless rather than leave the same sandwich in a chiller for 3 days.

On a side note, I saw an egg sandwich in Poundland which had an expiry date that was THREE WEEKS in the future. An egg sandwich, ffs. I dread to think what was in that.

Completely understand that people's priorities and budgets differ, but that really made me shudder.

Ugh. There's a supermarket sandwich factory near where I used to work. I heard some grim stories about it. Whether they were accurate or not I don't know, but again, I'd rather pay more for a sandwich made in the cafe's premises that morning, than one made in a factory a week before I get to eat it.

Given the differences in production, you really can't expect a Pret sandwich to cost the same as a factory one, even without taking the quality into consideration.

Story in the press today that Pret are reducing their sandwich prices to become more competitive!

Hopefully the quality doesn't decline.

Greggs is shite! Go to M&S. at least you get the quality you pay for.

www.cityam.com/pret-value-range-lunch-for-a-fiver-cost-of-living-sandwich/

doesn't sound bad to be fair - I'd like to see what the chicken and avo protein box is like

I must work in the epicentre for Prets as there are about 5 within easy walking distance from me though I tend to make breakfast/lunch and bring it in with me every day

I'd be tempted to not do that for one day as I'm saving a load anyway by stopping buying coffee as that's too expensive (Costa wanted £3.25 for a large coffee last week!)

When I do buy one, I like M&S best. Prices vary though - prawn or smoked salmon will probably be a £ more than cheese or egg.
What sort of sandwich was yours, OP?

Yanbu, a whole LOAF of bread is £2 for the fancy stuff. Chuck in a couple of bits of bacon, sliced tomato and lettuce and dollop of mayo, can't cost more than a pound to make at scale. Catering staff don't get paid much anyway so to charge nearly a fiver is extortionate.

Seriously? I think you forgot the shop to sell it from .

Pret and the like have always been too expensive. Make your own?

Debated whether to get a roll and filling in a bakery I dont usually go in. £3.95. Didnt buy one.

Eating out has become expensive. I am eating out even less often than I was. Not missing it so far.

*Loaf of bread £1.50 = 16 slices (8 sandwiches) = 30p per sandwich

Marg/spread = 20p

Filling options = chicken / cheese / ham / tuna = 40p

salad = 10p

Cost price of sandwich =£1.00

£4.60 is a massive mark up.

They'd sell a lot more sandwiches if they kept the price down. They'll lose a lot of customers by being so greedy.

caveat - I never buy sandwiches, they're a complete rip off.*

Proof that so many people on here talk absolute shite as though it’s gospel but have no clue. Have you ever been in a pret or a sandwich shop??
How on earth can you crayfish, mustard and rocket sandwich on whole grain bread to a white bread margarine and a measly 40p sliver of chicken? 😂 of course it’s cheaper if you’re comparing it to a poverty sandwich.
Its not like for like at all.

Yanbu, a whole LOAF of bread is £2 for the fancy stuff. Chuck in a couple of bits of bacon, sliced tomato and lettuce and dollop of mayo, can't cost more than a pound to make at scale. Catering staff don't get paid much anyway so to charge nearly a fiver is extortionate.

Yes, because things like premises, rent, rates, utilities, insurance, repairs, equipment etc are all free aren't they? Plus enough staff to ensure all service shifts are covered, even at zero hours / minimum wage.

If you're very good Santa drops a Pret franchise in your lap and you're an overnight millionaire.

Plus you'd shut pretty quickly if all you offered was a couple of bit of bacon, sliced tomato & lettuce and a dollop of mayo.