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Sometimes journalists contact me after finding my blog or social media pages, other times I’m being contacted by Pret staff or friends of staff who leak things to me that I then pass on to the press. Some are listed below.
Podcast Interview
I tell my story with Pret A Manger in below audio player interview on a podcast based in California by The Adam Paradox.
YouTube playlist featuring staff reviews, customer complaints including Loose Women presenter Nadia Sawalha’s stern words to Pret. Various issues on systemic bullying environment, pest problems, stale and mouldy food, coffee subscription issues that customers feel like is a scam etc.
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Mike Powell did a report for the BBC after he contacted me regarding Pret’s coffee subscription. The following report came from it where he mentioned my bog:
“Pret customers complain over drink subscription deal“
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59634846
I also helped Mike on his 2. Pret article in Feb. 2023 after he asked me for help.
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> My call-in to BBC radio show of Dotun Adebayo early morning on Christmas Day 2019. The subject of the show was »What does “Christmas spirit” mean to you?«. One of the questions was, if more people are alone at Christmas than it used to be, and what people’s experience is with Christmas in general. As I was up, I just called in. I didn’t speak about Pret, as death and grief is already “heavy” as it is on Christmas Day and I don’t think a BBC radio program would be ready to hear about Pret! I kept it “light” I hope.
(My losses happened in a span of 3 years, not 5 years, I just spoke from looking back on 5 years.)
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Two articles I wrote for the Scottish Left Review:
1. “Late Night Girl” Story with Pret
2. Pushing Back Against Pret
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I was contacted by someone just before the Queen’s 70th Jubilee celebration weekend that Pret are delaying to pay their staff for the 2. time. Pret cleverly used the bank holiday celebrations, knowing very well that the press and the public are distracted. I did a one-off and emailed CEO Pano Christou with stern words openly copying in the press including Sarah Butler from the Guardian. Later I blind carbon copied (BCC) current and former staff in to let them know to now be afraid to stand up.
Part of the DM:
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Shortly after I emailed CEO Pano Christou and Sarah Butler, she reported on this:
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In 2021 Sarah Butler also reported on a strike action plan that was announced and I tagged her in on Twitter. Her article sparked a public outcry and calls for boycotting Pret. But above article on the pay delay of course got drowned out by the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations. Pret cleverly use specific dates when the public is distracted.
I posted part of the message I received on Twitter in an update on Pret’s Payrise in Pennies which I also sent to Pret’s CEO, Sarah Butler and other journalists and Union president Ian Hodson from the Bakers Food and Alliedd Workers Union.
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BBC Report on Pret’s Subscription Service and my blog is mentioned for the first time in mainstream media since I started writing 3.5 years ago!
“Pret A Manger customers complain over drinks subscription deal” by Mike Powell, BBC
After being informed on 01. June 2022 that Pret will not pay staff on 02. June 2022, I contacted the press, including Sarah Butler from the Guardian and Union president Ian Hodsen and linked an update to my blog post: “Pay-rise PR Stunt“
The Guardian: “Pret workers short-changed as ‘payroll error’ delays jubilee wages“
A guest piece I wrote for a tribute page of the iconic Cockatoo Inn hotel in Los Angeles: Visiting the Cockatoo during the 1992 LA riots
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Pre-press article: Mid October 2021 I was contacted by an anonymous person with a link to Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous “black book”. The link went to page 38 where the name of Pret and itsu founder Julian Metcalfe is listed, together with his former wife Melanie. I passed the info on to the press who are reluctant or wanting to be absolutely sure the info is legit.
Why I was sent this info I detail here: Julian Metcalfe in Jeffrey Epstein’s black book.
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Press articles I prompted:
Amy Sharpe from the Sunday Mirror went undercover into Pret after she contacted me and I asked her to see for herself
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https://expret.org/2018/11/29/undercover-under-pressure
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The UK Noise Association published a Pret staff review I tweeted and used in one of the YouTube slideshows. I use YouTube because Facebook/Instagram completely block my website after Pret must have reported me. But they can’t block YouTube and other platforms.
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Noise Association PDF link: You will lose everything that makes you human.
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Tweeting to the press about Clive Schlee’s “retirement” and Pano Christou deleting his Twitter account:
https://expret.org/2019/07/15/pano-christou-now-ceo-of-pret-a-manger
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Clive Schlee’s £1000 announcement to all staff after he and Pret became aware of my blog:
https://expret.org/2019/12/04/day-4-clive-schlee-lightbulb-moment
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Leaked video I sent to the BBC and the article that came of it. The video in the link has since been deleted by Pret:
Article by Vivienne Nunis after I tagged her in with the leaked video and then talked her through who’s who and other Pret related issues.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53113475
NEW:
Podcast on Anchor.fm and other platforms.
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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. 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.
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.
Thank you for reading/listening.
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Interview:
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Bullied during bereavement in Pret A Manger 
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