A six-year delay to one of Pret a Manger's animal welfare commitments has triggered protests and criticism in the U.K.
During demonstrations on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14, animal rights activists brought a petition with nearly 100,000 signatures to Pret's London headquarters to challenge the chain's continued use of fast-growing "frankenchicken" breeds, according to Food Manufacture.
Here's what to know
The company claims it will stop using fast-growing chicken breeds by 2032, even though its 2018 pledge set 2026 as the original deadline.
Critics maintain that these birds live only about six weeks and often develop serious health problems linked to their rapid growth, including lameness, broken bones, and heart failure.
Animal Equality protested outside Pret a Manger's London headquarters on Oct. 14, after activists marched there from Trafalgar Square on Oct. 13.
Organizers said the Oct. 13 action included "the world's longest animal petition," signed by close to 100,000 people.
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The petition was launched by animal advocacy NGO Anima, which Food Manufacture reported has a £1 million ($1.3 million) campaign backing its effort against Pret.
"Pret's customers are being conned by empty promises," said Connor Jackson, chief executive of Anima.
"Every day people eat at Pret with expectations of high animal welfare, and yet behind their polished marketing, frankenchickens are collapsing in their own waste from leg disorders and heart failure," he added.
More background
Pret is a highly visible brand that built its image around convenience, quality, and trust.
Delaying a welfare commitment from 2026 to 2032 affects customers who believed they were supporting a business moving toward better standards.
Animal Equality executive director Abigail Penny criticized the chain for breaking its word.
"Pret made this promise because it knows these chickens suffer excruciating pain. But a broken promise doesn't help a single bird, and so far we've seen nothing to suggest the 2032 deadline is any more real than the 2026 one Pret has already abandoned," she observed.
"For the over one billion birds trapped in filthy factory farms across the UK every year, companies like Pret have the power to reduce their suffering. Using that power is the very least these animals deserve," Penny added.
That disconnect between branding and follow-through can make it harder for everyday shoppers to spend in line with their values.
When a company presents itself as supporting higher standards while delaying those promises for years, it becomes harder to separate meaningful action from marketing — and educating yourself about the often insidious practice of greenwashing can help.
Pret also questioned why it had become the campaign's main target despite what it described as its relatively small share of the U.K. chicken market.
The company argued that larger buyers have abandoned higher-welfare commitments altogether.
What's being done?
Animal Equality says Pret should release a detailed public roadmap showing how it will meet the 2032 deadline.
Penny promised that the protests would stop if the company published one.
Anima is also continuing its pressure campaign through its nearly 100,000-signature petition and a public campaign. Project Slingshot has added to that pressure by running ads across the London Underground, according to Food Manufacture.
Pret, for its part, said it remains part of the Better Chicken Commitment, a corporate animal welfare standard intended to improve conditions in poultry supply chains.
In a statement to Food Manufacture, the company said activists were targeting a business still working toward progress instead of companies that had abandoned similar commitments.
Campaigners want a public plan with dates, benchmarks, and measurable steps.
"The moment we see a credible plan, this campaign ends," Penny vowed. "Until then, we'll keep showing up."
Where can I learn more?
These stories examine the broader concerns behind Pret's delayed pledge and scrutiny of corporate claims. They cover several cases in which shoppers and critics challenged major brands' greenwashing.
• In Europe and the U.S., regulators are weighing tougher rules on misleading green claims.
• Nestlé faced backlash after shoppers said Corn Flakes messaging clashed with the company's record.
• Costco shoppers called out blatant greenwashing on blankets sold under eco-themed branding.
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