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Frying tonight at Pret
So I was sitting in the Kings Cross branch of Pret A Manger drinking some miso soup. So far, so virtuous. But a grating pervasive noise disturbed my reverie. Right opposite me there was a row of open-fronted display cabinets. Heavy-duty chiller engines in their base were roaring away to ensure that the crayfish wraps and organic chicken sandwiches on the shelves above stayed cool and...fresh. Above the cabinets, ceiling-mounted heating units were also roaring away - warming up the cool air that escaped from the cabinets.
So I go the the Pret website, where a new Sustainability Statement outlines "a list of priorities and more importantly, what we’re doing about them". The list covers packaging, recycling, food waste - and energy use. Of the latter it says: "we now have a fleet of 11 electric vans to deliver our just made sandwich platters to our delivery customers".
I would guess that the display cabinets in a single branch of Pret - and they have 150 - use as much energy as all those vans. But let's be positive. Nicki Fisher, Pret’s Sustainability Manager, asks (on their website) that we call her on +44 20 7932 3385 with any suggestions. What, if you were in her position, what would you do?
Postscript: even candy wrappers are noisy. Eric M Kramer explains why in this paper.
Posted by John Thackara at January 26, 2007 08:26 AM
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