/Long Petition Highlights Growing Concerns Over Animal Welfare at Pret A Manger
– A 400-meter-long petition was delivered to Pret A Manger’s head office.
– Over 100,000 individuals are boycotting the chain due to welfare standards.
– NHS GP and TV doctor Dr Amir Khan criticized Pret’s practices regarding chickens.
– New polling reveals significant misconceptions among customers about chicken welfare.
– Analysts estimate a potential £3 million loss in revenue for Pret due to the boycott.
A monumental 400-meter-long petition made its way through the streets of central London, culminating in a delivery to the head office of Pret A Manger today. This event comes as 100,000 individuals pledged to boycott the popular coffee chain for failing to meet its 2026 chicken welfare commitment.
Leading the protest was NHS GP, TV doctor, and author Dr Amir Khan, who condemned the chain for “putting animal welfare above profit.” He rallied with several hundred campaigners, denouncing the ongoing use of fast-growing “frankenchickens” raised on low welfare farms. The event concluded with Anima’s CEO publicly confronting Pret’s management, accusing the CEO of “hiding behind his desk” after ignoring requests to engage with the pledges and an open letter from nine UK animal protection organizations.
Recent polling indicates that customers are largely unaware of the realities of chicken welfare. Many mistakenly believe they are purchasing chickens raised under high welfare conditions, with over 40% thinking the chickens are free range or organic. Connor Jackson, Chief Executive of Anima, stated, “Pret’s customers are being conned by empty promises. Every day people eat at Pret with expectations of high animal welfare, and yet behind their polished marketing, frankenchickens are collapsing in their own waste from leg disorders and heart failure.”
Dr Khan emphasized the urgent need for ethical reforms, stating, “Companies like Pret need to put animal welfare above profit and honour their promise to do better for frankenchickens. Over 100,000 people have pledged to take a break from Pret until they do the right thing, and I stand in solidarity with them and with factory farmed chickens that suffer.”
Despite Pret’s 2018 commitment to eliminate fast-growing “frankenchickens” by 2026, company reports indicate they have made 0% progress on this goal. Fast-growing chickens, bred to grow five times faster than those in the 1950s, frequently encounter severe welfare issues, including debilitating walking disorders and heart failure.
The boycott could have significant financial repercussions for Pret, with analysts from Development Economics estimating potential losses of £3 million in revenue in the first year alone. This analysis has also been applied to other major UK businesses such as Barclays and McDonald’s.
