Most people who are offered a free lunch would probably gratefully accept.
Most, but not everyone.
An editor in the Bristol Live office who wandered into Pret on Baldwin Street recently was surprised to be offered lunch for free by a member of staff.
They were taken aback and (shockingly) turned the offer down.
The person didn’t realise it is actually a policy of Pret’s that has been running for some time.
The sandwich chain, which is reportedly buying up rival Eat in a bid to target more vegetarian customers, has been handing out free coffee and food for a while now.
Chief executive Clive Schlee, who has headed up Pret since 2003, has given workers permission to hand out a certain number of hot drinks and food every week.
Mr Schlee told the Evening Standard that “giving away free drinks” is a much better than loyalty cards.
How does Pret decide who gets free food and coffee?
Mr Schlee explained: "[Staff] will decide 'I like the person on the bicycle' or 'I like the guy in that tie' or 'I fancy that girl or that boy'.
"It means 28 per cent of people have had something free. It’s a nice, different way of doing it."
Other members of the Bristol Live team have also been offered coffee in Bristol - at Pret on Victoria Street and at the Cabot Circus Chain.
So next time you visit a Pret in the city and one of the staff says you can have your coffee or lunch on the house, it’s because it’s company policy.
