Pret A Manger seem to be telling their usual “suppLIEr issue” version again. This time with Cornichons.
From The Guardian 13. April 2026 quote,
“Cornichon shortage leaves British sandwich shops in a pickle.
Shortage of pickled mini-cucumbers has caused Pret a Manger to pull its jambon beurre from shelves”
But the Guardian doing their homework, asked around at other businesses and found that there doesn’t seem to be a general shortage, only for Pret. And again, from my own experience with Pret’s bulls!t, there must be a different reason. Pret ALWAYS cite “supplier issues” no matter what the real reason is, as also shown in below detailed issue with hot chocolate powder not available and other supposed “supplier issues”.
Further quote in the Guardian article:
“Supermarkets have not noticed supply problems of cornichons yet. A Waitrose spokesperson said they were still fully stocked.”
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Like I explain below, having run shops in Pret, when there was an issue with food, be it allergy issues where a product or food item was mislabeled either by the factory or by staff etc. we had to take the item off the shelf quickly and were always told to tell customers who enquired that we have “supplier issues”. Always blame delivery and the supplier chain, and never take responsibility for mislabeling or other issues.
Remember that Pret did NOTHING after TWO customers died and multiple people got injured. They only reacted once this became public.
People on various social media platforms confirm that ONLY Pret have shortage of cornichons. Nowhere eles in the UK, not even in France, Germany etc. is there a shortage.
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An old post from a few years ago about hot chocolate powder “supplier Issues” which turned out to not be a supplier issue, as usual.
Pret’s “Hot Chocolat Saga” (older post).
Customers have been flocking to Twitter to express their outrage that there hasn’t been any Hot Chocolate available in all Pret’s (except for the odd chocolate sprinkles on the cappuccino!)
As usual Pret gives the “supplier” version as a reason why a product has not been available. I worked at Pret and when we had “issues” we were always instructed to say that it is due to a delivery issue.
Trouble is, the truth has a way to always sieve through, and an honest Team Member accidentally spilled the beans on the real reason why the choc powder isn’t available:
Thus forcing Pret to speak the (half) truth before going back to the “supplier” version:
So, this Pret Twitter staff member was taken off-guard and even confirmed that they have a “recipe” issue, but never denied that there was dairy in the hot chocolate powder. Suddenly it’s not a supplier issue, but a change of recipe without denying the dairy content.
Why blame the supplier when Pret can just admit that they’re changing the recipe to non-dairy? Simple, a quick update or reminder that Pret is facing trial on 6th December 2019 in Bath after the second customer Celia Marsh, mother of five, died after eating traces of dairy in what she thought was a non-dairy wrap.
Photo: SomersetLive.co.uk
Link: >>> Pret A Manger and Planet Coconut face trial after allergen death, which also may be the reason why Pret has set aside £10 Million in legal costs.
Link: >>> Pret a Manger set aside £10m for food allergy scandal costs, accounts reveal.
Mainstream media keeps quiet about the Hot Chocolate issue and only “report” on issues like new vegan options, or the Jambon Beurre that has been discontinued, and then re-introduced after a public “outcry”. Isn’t it interesting that the media has not mentioned the Hot Chocolate powder issue, even though the public is much louder about this? If you want to know the reality of Pret, you need to DIG and not swallow everything mainstream media (that is in Pret’s pocket) is dishing out.
So, here are only a few of the many of same responses that Pret keeps telling the public, copy and paste replies to try and keep the dairy issue silent:
And so on and so forth…
The above Tweets are only from today, but this issue has been going on for weeks.
Quick reminder on the REAL reason:
Also, when products disappear for a few weeks, pay attention to the SIZE of the product when it returns under the “new improved recipe” slogan. Soups return watered down, brownies etc. return smaller etc. etc.
I write mainly on Pret staff issues and the bullying environment the public is unaware of.
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The above slideshow is just a selection, the list goes on in → Pret Staff Complaints and beyond.
And detailed examples of what staff say about the bullying environment in Pret, including Head Office. A customer recently witnessed first hand how staff are bullied:
Link: >>> Caught in the Act at Pret A Manger
Dear Public,
for the most part you are oblivious and unaware of how Pret A Manger treat their staff. There’s a reason why Pret and its leadership have such poor scores on Glassdoor & Co where staff dare to speak out in anonymity. And the legacy Clive Schlee, now former CEO, leaves behind I can only underline with my own experience I share in the audio player at the bottom of this page.
Pret has been very successful in fooling the public and luring employees in with incentives and a smiley facade. But all I can say if you don’t want to believe the reality of Pret, is that if something looks too good to be true in a multi-billion pound company, especially now under private equity, TAKE A CLOSER LOOK!
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I worked at Pret A Manger and survived systemic workplace bullying during bereavement that involved HR, the top leadership, HQ and even the now “retired” former CEO Clive Schlee. Schlee has been appointed CEO of itsu in 2024 by Julian Metcalfe who gave him the CEO spot at Pret many years ago.
I declined 4 settlement offers if I am silent about my ordeal. But I rather speak out to help others. For an overview of important blog entries of my experience with Pret, please visit “My Ordeal with Pret A Manger”. The little arrow to the right next to each heading will lead directly to the post.
An incomplete list on what other Pret staff say about Pret’s bullying environment: Caught in the Act Bullying at Pret and What shop MANAGERS & HQ staff say about Pret incl. CEO Pano Christou.
I tell my story for the first time verbally in below audio player interview on a podcast by The Adam Paradox, and wrote two articles in the Scottish Left Review as well as mentioned by the BBC.
Please also see the MEDIA page for more on my work with the press.
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Thank you for reading/listening.
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Interview:
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Bullied during bereavement in Pret A Manger 