This announcement comes as part of the chain’s latest financial results which revealed that profits are rising. Last year's sales were up 17% from £377 million to £443 million and 36 new shops opened between 2011 and 2012.

Pret also plans to create approximately 1,000 new jobs in 2013, of which at least 500 will be in the UK.  The chain has launched its fledgling National School Leaver Programme to encourage British school leavers to work for them.  The first nine school leavers have already joined and the scheme will be expanded in September this year.

Clive Schlee, chief executive of Pret A Manger, commented: “2012 was a strong year for Pret. We continued to invest in our core values, improving our menu, launching innovative employment schemes and building and refurbishing shops in all our markets.  We opened in Paris and in a fourth US City, Boston, and we gave more money to our charities than ever before.

 “Pret has maintained robust growth in the first quarter of 2013 despite economic uncertainty in many of our markets.   We plan to open fifty new shops this year and will endeavor to continue selling freshly prepared, good natural food to our customers as quickly as we can.”