It started in 1986 with GBP 17,000 (HK$244,533) start-up capital as a sandwich shop in London's Victoria, selling wholesome sandwiches to time-starved city suits.
Now, with 130 outlets in Britain, 14 in New York and six in Hong Kong, Pret A Manger sells snacks to all sectors.
'Hong Kong people like the freshness,' said managing director Winne Lau Wing-yee. Pointing to photos of rivals' sandwiches that resemble badly made beds, she said: 'Ours aren't soggy and the filling is distributed evenly. Also the bread in most local sandwiches tastes like styrofoam.'
Staff like the high-energy team building programme and the wages. Pret, ranked among the top 10 best employers by Fortune, paid staff about $40 a hour - a lot more than McDonald's, she said.
A mystery shopper secretly checks on staff cheerfulness. Beamers are rewarded with a $6 an hour pay bonus. Food has been adapted for Hong Kong, with spicy Tandoori chicken, ginger mayo and icing-free cakes. Ninety per cent is now sourced in China or Australia, as opposed to Britain.
Ms Lau's biggest challenge is daily fresh supplies. Pret's ethos is super-fresh food made daily on the premises. 'Nothing is kept - uneaten food is given to charity'. She oversees the growing of lettuce and special Pret tomato in China, which has a lower moisture content to combat the soggy bread factor.