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ABSTRACT
This research paper analyses the successful operations strategies adopted by the "Pret A Manager". The major areas of operations covered include the store environment and service delivery system. The good operations strategy also include a reliable recruitment system adopted by the "Pret A Manager". The features of the recruitment process is also key to their successful operations. This research paper has undoubted taken a comparative study between the ACME Whistles and the Pret A Manager in order to see the similarities an dissimilarities between two diversified operations.
Keywords: Operations, service delivery system, recruitment.
INTRODUCTION
Pret A Manager is the French for "ready-to-eat". Two College friends namely Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair Beecham made proper sandwiches by avoiding chemicals and preservatives. The above two of them had little experience in the world of business. Since the first store opened, Pret has been hugely successful, expanding rapidly in the UK and also abroad. There are 263 Pret shops approximately at the moment in UK, New York, Chicago, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
According to Beecham and Metcalfe, the founders of Pret a Manager, the secret to their success is their determination to focus continually on quality - not just the food but in every aspect of the operations practice. Their corporate policy is to own and manage all their shops so as to provide maximum control of the brand and ensure consistently high standards in all shops, right from making fresh quality food, to their service delivery system. The recruitment process of all their stafffrom the shop floor to the manager working in their head office, the prime focus and concern is on maintaining quality.
SUCCESS OF PRET A MANAGER
"Pret A manager" , has strived for quality and perfection in all aspects of their operations. Their organisation has been successful in the following areas of operations:
1. Store Environment
One of the things that really make Pret stand out from its competitors is the industrial chic décor within its shops. Each store has a crisp clean environment comprising reflective aluminum walls and diamond shaped floors. All equipment has a stainless steel modern look from refrigerated cases to the cash registers and coffee brewers with a few touches of color here and there. The burgundy Pret star...