Strategic reset comes despite ambitious plans to accelerate U.S. growth through the franchise-led joint venture announced in 2023
Pret A Manger has ended its franchise and joint venture partnership with Dallas International in the United States, bringing to a close a relationship that was unveiled with significant expansion ambitions less than three years ago.
The move marks a notable shift in Pret’s U.S. growth strategy. In October 2023, the London-based coffee and food-to-go chain announced a joint venture with Dallas International, one of its largest franchise partners globally, to accelerate expansion across the American market. Under the agreement, Dallas International assumed operational control of approximately 50 Pret locations across New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., while securing exclusive rights to open new stores in those territories. The partnership also included plans to launch more than 10 additional East Coast locations by 2026.
According to franchise disclosure documents, Dallas International is no longer listed as Pret’s U.S. franchise partner, confirming the dissolution of the arrangement that was announced with considerable fanfare in 2023.
The U.S. joint venture was originally positioned as a cornerstone of Pret’s North American growth ambitions. At the time of the announcement, Pret said the partnership would help more than triple the size of its U.S. business over the following five years, leveraging Dallas International’s operational expertise and experience as an existing franchise partner.
Dallas International has been one of Pret’s longest-standing international franchise operators and has played a significant role in the brand’s overseas expansion efforts. The company is also closely associated with Pret’s growth in India through its partnership with Reliance Brands, which brought the British food and coffee chain into one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.
The termination means Pret will now reassess how it manages and grows its U.S. footprint, one of the brand’s most strategically important international markets. Neither party has publicly disclosed detailed reasons behind the separation.
The development comes as Pret continues to pursue international expansion despite challenging economic conditions. The company recently reported encouraging trading momentum in 2026, with system sales rising 7% during the first four months of the year, driven by new store openings and increased customer visits.
Pret has increasingly relied on franchise partnerships to support global growth, particularly outside its home market in the UK. Under CEO Pano Christou, the company has accelerated its international expansion strategy, entering and growing in markets including India, Spain, Greece, Canada and several countries across the Middle East. Franchising has become a central pillar of Pret’s growth model, allowing the company to scale more rapidly while limiting capital expenditure.
The company is majority-owned by JAB Holding Company, which acquired a controlling stake in Pret in 2018 and has backed the brand’s international growth ambitions.
The U.S. market remains a major priority for Pret. As of early 2026, the company operated around 68 locations across the country, concentrated primarily along the East Coast, with additional stores in Chicago and Los Angeles. The market has long been viewed as a key growth engine for the business as it seeks to build a stronger presence beyond the UK and Europe.
The end of the Dallas International agreement represents one of the most significant changes to Pret’s U.S. operating structure since the 2023 joint venture was launched. While the separation closes a chapter in the company’s American expansion journey, it also provides an opportunity to reassess its operating model in a highly competitive market. Industry observers will be watching closely to see whether Pret pursues future growth through corporate-owned stores, new franchise partnerships or a hybrid approach as it charts the next phase of its North American strategy.
