The Times - UK (2021-12-21)

the times | Tuesday December 21 2021 17

News

The high street café chain Pret A Man-
ger was told to rethink how it advertises
its drinks subscription service amid
thousands of customer complaints.
The deal, which offers five hot or cold
drinks each day for £20 a month, was
introduced in September last year, in an
effort to win back customers after sales
plunged during lockdown.
However, many customers have
been left frustrated about the availabili-
ty of some drinks and have complained
to the Advertising Standards Authority.
Pret has received about 5,000 com-

The prime suspect in the
abduction of Madeleine
McCann may be charged
next year with the rape of
an Irish tour representa-
tive in 2004, officials in
Germany said.
Christian Brückner, 45,
is suspected of attacking

McCann suspect ‘in rape inquiry’

Hazel Behan, then 20, in

her apartment in Praia da

Rocha in the Algarve, a 30-

minute drive from where

Madeleine was abducted.

Der Spiegel said that

prosecutors were expected

to “conclude the investi-

gation” early next year.

Brückner has denied any

involvement in the disap-

pearance of Madeleine in

Praia da Luz in 2007.

Behan, who has waived

her anonymity, contacted

British police after reading

about an apparently simi-

lar rape by Brückner in

2005 in Praia da Luz, for

which he was jailed.

Brückner’s lawyer has

declined to comment.

Debbie White

Certain drinks were said

to be unavailable in

Pret’s subscription plan

Pret’s subscription customers espresso dissent

Andrew Ellson
Consumer Affairs Correspondent

plaints about the drinks subscription

service, according to the BBC, includ-

ing frustration that customers have

been denied cold drinks, such as

smoothies or frappes.

The ASA said it had told Pret to

“consider reviewing” its advertising

campaign as a result.

In marketing material the company

claimed that “if our baristas brew it,

blend it or steam it, you can have it”.

The Times spoke to one former sub-

scriber who had left the scheme a

couple of months after becoming frus-

trated. Daniel Hamilton, of FTI Con-

sulting, described the deal as a “total

waste of money”. He said: “I thought it

was too good to be true when I signed

up. I had a month or two with a great

range of products, then it narrowed.

“The highlight was when every shop

in the City near my office claimed their

ice machine had broken. Basically you

could only get a filter coffee. One of

their staff even told me to cancel the sub

because ‘it’s shit’.”

Former Pret staff say that the

subscription scheme was so popular it

left workers feeling overwhelmed by

the increased workload. One claimed

that staff deliberately turned off blend-

ing machines because it took too long

to prepare a smoothie.

One, writing on a blog set up by a

disgruntled former employee, claimed

that it was no coincidence that ingredi-

ents for the most expensive drinks ran

out. The author wrote: “How

can a company the size of

Pret have ‘supplier issues’

for 6+ months on

specific items?”

Pret says that the

terms and conditions

of the subscription

service make clear

that all eligible prod-

ucts are subject to availability. It added

that it had spoken with the advertising

watchdog to ensure all its marketing

adheres to guidelines.

The ASA said: “We noted

that their ads should not

state or imply that the

service was available in

all store locations, or

that it covers their en-

tire range of products

if that wasn’t the case.”

Pret added: “Signifi-

cantly, less than 1 per

cent of all coffee sub-

scribers have raised any

concerns about this issue.”

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