I’ve been speaking to CEOs all year – this is what they really think Business After spending a year interviewing some of the UK’s top business leaders, a number of themes have emerged which paint a concerning picture of their confidence in this country’s future prospects – but there is also hope. In 25 episodes of City AM‘s Boardroom Uncovered podcast series in 2025, a large number of the CEOs [...]
Square Mile darling Farmer J bags $23m funding to take on New York Retail London’s fast-casual darling Farmer J is heading across the pond after securing a $23m (£17.5m) funding round to launch its first New York flagship later this year, City AM can reveal. The investment, led by existing backer Beringea and joined by a new global hospitality investor, will also fuel three additional London openings before year-end, [...]
Pret A Manger ‘being punished for focusing on UK’ Retail Pret A Manger is being punished for focusing on the UK and this is a “disaster for domestic growth”, according to the chief executive of drinking chocolate chain Knoops. Writing on LinkedIn, William Gordon-Harris said “the sad fact is for UK domestic growth is that so many UK founded businesses focus their growth after launch [...]
The Capitalist: slim pickings at Mansion House July 17, 2025 A slither of salmon at Mansion House, protein-packed ‘Super Plates’ at Pret and a self-appreciating AI. Catch up with all the latest gossip from the Square Mile with The Capitalist The Capitalist rubbed shoulders with the City’s great and good at Mansion House on Tuesday, where a decidedly upbeat Rachel Reeves told the assembled financiers [...]
Will Pret a Manger’s IPO be a tasty treat for the City? June 12, 2025 There are few better ways to start the morning than with a bacon sandwich. Outside City AM‘s offices on Cheapside, a coterie of cafes and sandwich shops open at 6am to sate City workers’ cravings for the greasy, umami-rich bap. There is often a line stretching out the door at Greggs, which charges £3 for [...]
Boardroom Uncovered: How work from home policies have changed business June 10, 2025 Pret A Manger UK managing director, Clare Clough, said work from home patterns are influencing where the business opens new stores.
How WFH is influencing where Pret A Manger will open new stores June 10, 2025 The move to working from home post-pandemic is having an impact on where Pret A Manger will open new stores, its UK boss has said.
Pret owners in discussions for IPO or possible sale June 6, 2025 Pret’s parent company JAB Holding has engaged advisors to explore options for the sandwich chain, which include a potential sale or stock market float. Luxembourg-based JAB, which bought Pret for £1.5bn in 2018, told the Financial Times that it was not “currently” considering a sale, but added: “As we move closer to a potential IPO, [...]
Pret A Manger: Why prices rises are ‘inevitable’ after surviving ‘near-death crisis’ May 19, 2025 The boss of Pret A Manger in the UK has revealed the tough economic reality the country is currently facing means it is “inevitable” that some prices will have to be increased. Clare Clough admitted recent years have been “challenging” for the high street staple but that the brand’s number one priority is to find [...]
Pret A Manger hit with winding up petition by water company February 14, 2025 Pret A Manger has been hit with a winding up petition by a business water supplier over unpaid debts