BY ALLISON LEE
In 2018, Pret A Manger—the British multinational sandwich chain founded in London in 1983—made a public promise to stop selling fast‑growing chickens by 2026. However, the company has now delayed that commitment until 2032, a decision that has provoked fierce backlash from animal welfare advocates. In response, campaigners have unveiled a giant ‘frankenchicken’ sculpture outside one of Pret’s flagship stores to draw attention to the issue.
The campaign is led by Anima, part of Anima International, a global animal organisation that has been at the forefront of European welfare campaigns for over 25 years. Activists have targeted Pret with a car‑sized mechanical wrap, styled after the chain’s own products, containing a whole ‘frankenchicken’ complete with feathers. The sculpture was revealed outside Pret A Manger in Oxford Circus, marking the start of Anima’s £1 million, week‑long public campaign across 15 Pret cafes in London.
On its website, Pret states that “animal welfare matters deeply” and that it “plays an important part in how we source our ingredients.” The company also outlines five principles of animal welfare and acknowledges that “animals are sentient beings” whose wellbeing includes not only physical health but also mental welfare and the ability to express natural behaviours. Despite these stated values, Pret has failed to honour its 2016 pledge to phase out fast‑growing chicken breeds. While these birds are highly productive in terms of yield, they suffer from serious health problems: rapid muscle growth often outstrips the development of their internal organs and skeletons, leading to deformities, lameness, and cardiovascular stress.
Connor Jackson, Chief Executive of Anima, criticised the company’s stance, saying: “Pret’s so‑called commitment is simply a cover for its continued inaction.” He added that not a single bird has yet been switched to a slower‑growing breed, and that “Contrary to customers’ expectations, Pret is selling the exact same fast‑growing chickens as KFC, Nando’s and Burger King, and there’s no reason to believe this will change. In the 8 years since Pret committed to phasing out frankenchickens, it has not transitioned a single chicken to a higher‑welfare breed.”
Pret’s own 2025 Progress Update confirms that 0% of its chicken in the UK, US, and France currently comes from slower‑growing breeds. The company’s new plan targets 50% by 2031 and 100% by 2032, with no interim milestones until 2031.
In response, Anima is urging the public to pledge to take a break from Pret until the chain begins making tangible progress. “We’ve tried to solve this with Pret behind the scenes, but instead they have simply kicked the can down the road. So, we’ve now taken it upon ourselves to inform Londoners on Pret’s behalf, with the launch of the Frankenwrap™ – a monstrous but honest edition of Pret’s iconic chicken sandwich,” Jackson explained. Members of the public can support the campaign by signing the pledge to take a break from Pret.
What do you think?
A load of old vegan, extremist nonsense or do Anima have a point?
Allison Lee is a smallholder from North Yorkshire who has written for the Yorkshire Times and other publications. Her website can be accessed here.