Pret A Manger customers blast subscription cost hike of £30 a month

Pret A Manger customers blast decision to hike cost of five-a-day coffee subscription by 20% to £30 a month as price of a latte soars from £2.95 to £3.30

The move comes against backdrop of big increases in the cost of ingredients
Pret’s subscription costs £25 a month and is accessed 1.25M times per week

Pret A Manger is putting up the price of its popular coffee subscription scheme by £5 a month to £30 – as the price of a latte soars from £2.95 to £3.30.

The current coffee subscription scheme costs £25 a month and offers members up to five barista-made drinks a day, which has proved hugely popular during the cost of living squeeze.

It is being replaced by Club Pret, a new loyalty scheme which costs £30 a month – an effective increase of 20 per cent – although it will be sweetened with new discounts on its mix of sandwiches, pastries and other products.

The move comes against the backdrop of big increases in the cost of ingredients, including milk, coffee and cheese, and the need to boost staff wages three times in a year.

Pret customers have shared their anger about the news online, with many saying they are going to cancel their subscriptions as a result.

One wrote on Twitter: ‘Pret increasing their subscription again ffs. Having it right off – 50 per cent increase in 18 months,’ while another said: ‘How was it two years ago I started paying pret subscription for £15 a month now it’s DOUBLEDD.’

Pret A Manger is putting up the price of its popular coffee subscription scheme by £5 a month to £30. The move comes against the backdrop of big increases in the cost of ingredients, including milk, coffee and cheese, and the need to boost staff wages three times in a year

Pret customers have shared their anger about the news online, with many saying they are going to cancel their subscriptions as a result

The deal is currently accessed some 1.25 million times per week in the UK, which is up by 11 per cent on a year ago.

Club Pret will continue to offer five drinks a day, while customers will also be able to claim a 10 per cent discount on all food and snacks – and any additional drinks.

READ MORE: It’s Pret-flation! Pret hikes prices up by 18%

Historically, many members of the scheme were able to make the biggest savings by opting for Pret frappes and smoothies, which are expensive and time consuming to make.

These are being replaced with a new range of Pret Coolers, which will be easier and quicker to make through a significant investment in new ice machines.

Plenty of people were quick to complain of the price increase on Twitter, with many noting that they no longer thought the value for money was good anymore.

Someone said on Wednesday morning: ‘Pret increasing it’s subscription fee to £30 per month is absolutely ridiculous. Cancelled my subscription today.

‘Pret’s quality has also deteriorated recently. Current prices: Costa latte approx £2.50, Pret £3.80. No brainer. Go elsewhere #pret.’

Another penned: ‘Pret subscription going up to £30 per month, definitely not worth it anymore.’

Someone else said: @Pret raising subscription prices a further 20% after a 25% increase not long ago, dropping the smoothies and frappes and describing it as an upgrade leaves a bad taste. I think my love affair may be over.’

On the face of it, the new promise of a 10 per cent discount on food and snacks is a powerful incentive for customers to remain loyal to the scheme, however the saving has been offset by price rises in the past year.

For example, the Mail recently highlighted how the price of an all-butter croissant had gone up 40p – 18.2 per cent – to £2.60 at some outlets.

Club Pret will continue to offer five drinks a day, while customers will also be able to claim a 10 per cent discount on all food and snacks – and any additional drinks

Similarly, its chocolate croissant rose by 13.7 per cent to £2.90, its dark chocolate and almond butter cookie rose 14.6 per cent to £2.75, and a cinnamon danish went up 25p – 9.4 per cent – at some outlets to £2.90.

One user made a suggestion to the barista chain about creating different strands of subscription to appeal to more who are only interested in the coffee.

They said: ‘@Pret I see that the subscription is increasing yet again to £30 in June. Have you considered a cheaper option, where someone can get 2-3 drinks a day for cheaper? I don’t really need the 5 drinks a day or a discount on food as I never buy food!’

The new scheme goes live on Wednesday and existing subscribers will get the full Club Pret deal for £25 for the first 40 days ahead of the price increasing to £30.

Separately, people signing up from today will get a 50 per cent discount for the first month – bringing the cost down to £15.

Current members of the £25 subscription service typically use it 28 times per month, which compares to an average of two purchases per month for non-subscribers.

The company described the new loyalty scheme as an ‘evolution’ as it aims to double the size of the business by 2026 while retaining its staff and allowing them a wage which reflects the rising cost of living.

Three pay rises in a year have increased the average base pay for its 7,870 staff by 19 per cent.

MailOnline has contacted Pret-A-Manger for comment.

Plenty of people were quick to complain of the price increase on Twitter, with many noting that they no longer thought the value for money was good anymore

Chief executive, Pano Christou, said: ‘Over the past year, we’ve thought long and hard about the best way to support the people who matter most to Pret – our team members who do such an outstanding job, day in and day out, as well as our customers.

‘That’s why we’ve increased pay three times in the last 12 months, and reinvested in benefits to support our people through the cost of living crisis.

‘It’s now time that we give back to our most loyal customers, expanding the subscription and making our freshly made food, snacks and organic coffee, more accessible to the people who have been crucial to Pret’s success. That’s what Club Pret is all about.’

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