Is Pret making a prat of you?

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This news item was first published 20 January 2017

After nearly a year and a half of correspondence with Pret’s CEO Clive Schlee, the Campaign believes that the company has no intention of resolving this apparent discrepancy by either removing all artificial additives from its products, or by declaring them on product/shelf labelling and removing the natural and anti-additive claims from its marketing.

From social media to etched wooden boards in store, through sandwich cartons to napkins and window displays, Pret repeatedly makes claims such as “we shun the obscure chemicals, additives and preservatives common to so much ‘prepared’ and ‘fast’ food.”¹  Elsewhere, Pret appears to imply that the absence of ingredient labelling is because its own sandwiches are additive-free, saying that “factory produced long-life sandwiches are plastered with labels containing lots of boring numbers, names, dates and symbols. No label is good. Pret sandwiches etc are fresh. They have no labels.”²  The company even goes as far as to state “Now you know how to spot the difference.”

Even though the company insists that “avoiding preservatives and obscure chemicals is sacred to Pret,”³  the reality is that it does use them. In May 2015, an email from the company’s customer services department responding to a query from the Campaign revealed that the ‘malted wholemeal’ loaf it uses has 15 listed ingredients and unnecessary additives.⁴  Across Pret’s range, the artificial additives used in baked products include: E920 (l-cysteine hydrochloride) E472e (diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides), E471 (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids), E422 (glycerol), E330 (citric acid) and E300 (ascorbic acid).⁵  None of these appears on product packaging, labels or point of sale signs. The Campaign then began corresponding with Schlee, encouraging the company to become a Real Bread leader by going additive-free in line with its claimed ethos.

The Food Standards Agency criteria for the use of the word notes that “Natural means essentially that the product is comprised of natural ingredients, e.g. ingredients produced by nature, not the work of man or interfered with by man. It is misleading to use the term to describe foods or ingredients that employ chemicals to change their composition or comprise the products of new technologies, including additives and flavourings that are the product of the chemical industry or extracted by chemical processes.”⁶  As Pret acknowledges: “nowadays scientists make mass-produced food last longer, look nicer and have improved “mouth-feel”. This alchemy often appears on packaging as E numbers and long unpronounceable chemical names. Basically, it helps make money along the way. The damage these additives do to our bodies is the source of tremendous debate and research.”⁷

In the May 2015 email, Pret admitted that “the number of included ingredients is so large, that to provide comprehensive ingredient advice in this way would be impossible.” Even assuming that this, and the protest that “we don't label our sandwiches due to the volumes we make,” is true, clearly there is plenty of space available at point of sale, but they choose instead to display “labels that describe the flavours in each sandwich.”

Another pillar of Pret’s marketing is ‘freshness’. This includes highlighting that some of their “shops have a wonderful baker’s oven (indeed, some have two). We bake our baguettes throughout the day, the fresher the better.”⁸  However, not one of the company’s outlets uses its “big, fancy baker’s oven”⁹  to make “baguettes, pastries, croissants and savouries in house every day” from scratch. While insisting that “‘we don’t sell ‘factory’ stuff,”¹⁰  Pret in fact use its ovens merely as what the Campaign calls ‘loaf tanning salons’ to bake off mass-produced items pre-made elsewhere at some point in the past.¹¹

In October 2016, Schlee wrote that the company had declined to switch to using a Real Bread bakery as “their prices were two to three times our current price and moving would cost Pret several million pounds”. He claimed that they were “making progress in moving to cleaner bread” but it was not clear whether additives would be removed, or replaced by so-called ‘clean label’ (i.e. undeclared) processing aids.¹²  As at December 2016, Pret’s ‘natural’ and ‘fresh’ marketing messages were still in use.

Real Bread Campaign coordinator Chris Young said: “We urge Pret a Manger to come clean, first by displaying lists of all ingredients, including additives, on packaging or at point of sale and bringing its marketing messages in line with its practices. No artificial additive is necessary to make bread and ultimately we would like to see Pret, and all other sandwich sellers, removing all artificial additives.”

Since its launch in November 2008, a key element of the Real Bread Campaign’s mission has been to bring about change that gives more people the chance to choose additive-free loaves. A mainstay of this is calling for changes in governmental policy (an ‘Honest Crust Act’) and commercial practice, which will result in more honest and transparent labelling and marketing to help people to make better-informed loaf and sandwich buying choices.

Find details of how to:

• Contact a local Trading Standards office
• Submit a complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority

realbreadcampaign.org

NOTES

A list of ingredients artificial addtives in Pret loaves, baguettes, wraps etc [PDF download]

1.   Long description, www.facebook.com/pretamanger/info?tab=page_info
2.   Passion fact No. 55, No label is good, www.flickr.com/photos/pret_a_manger/5836595694/in/album-72157626968720174/
3.   Company overview www.facebook.com/pretamanger/info?tab=page_info
4.   The number ingredients technically necessary to make bread are two: flour and water, from which flatbread can be made, or can be left to ferment to produce sourdough. In practice, salt is added almost universally and, in the UK, loaves are currently more commonly leavened with commercial yeast, rather than sourdough starter culture.
5.   A list of artificial additives permitted in loaf manufacture, and their functions, can be found at www.sustainweb.org/realbread/food_additives/#permitted
6.   Criteria For The Use Of The Terms Fresh, Pure, Natural Etc. In Food Labelling, www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/markcritguidance.pdf
7.   Passion fact No. 57, Alchemy, www.flickr.com/photos/pret_a_manger/5836594554/in/album-72157626968720174/
8.   Baguettes, www.pret.co.uk/en-gb/category/45-baguettes-&-wraps.aspx
9.   (Passion fact No.11, Baking At Pret. www.flickr.com/photos/pret_a_manger/5836594734/in/album-72157626968720174/)
10.   Long description www.facebook.com/pretamanger/info?tab=page_info
11.   The Food Standards Agency’s Criteria For The Use Of The Terms Fresh, Pure, Natural Etc. In Food Labelling,
12. states that: “Terms such as “freshly baked”, “baked in store” and “oven fresh” may mislead consumers into believing that they are being offered products that have been freshly produced on site from basic raw materials.” It adds that use of such terms for bake-off products “could potentially infringe” relevant legislation. www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/markcritguidance.pdf
13.   ‘“processing aid” means any substance not consumed as a food by itself, intentionally used in the processing of raw materials, foods or their ingredients, to fulfil a certain technological purpose during treatment or processing, and which may result in the unintentional but technically unavoidable presence of residues of the substance or its derivatives in the final product, provided that these residues do not present any health risk and do not have any technological effect on the finished product’, The Food Labelling Regulations 1996, www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/1499/made

UPDATES

• ASA = Advertising Standards Authority
• We = The Real Bread Campaign
• Westminster = The Environmental Health department of Westminster Council, Pret’s Primary Authority
• ICO = Infomation Commissioners Office
• FOI = Freedom of Information Act

20 November 2019: We received from Westminster (redacted) copies of correspondence requested under the FOI on 7 August 2018. It includes this from an email sent by Pret on 10 February 2017: 'The Real Bread Company [sic.] have been challenging Pret and other organisations over a number of years, not always in the most constructive or transparent of ways. Whilst we are respectful of their desire and commitment to the production, sale and profiting from bread prepared in a certain way, with and without certain ingredients, we and the significant majority of common household bread producers are not in a feasible position to operate in accordance with their utopian requirements. Further we, similar to many other reputable providers cannot have our procurement and preparation dictated to us, by single issue commercial pressure groups. We  have, as you will have seen from the wealth of communications they shared, endeavoured to be as communicative and open as we can.'

19 November 2019: We emailed the ICO to say we had not received the information from WCC. The ICO replies to say they have followed up with WCC, noting: 'Section 54 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides that the Commissioner may certify in writing to the High Court if a public authority fails to comply with a Decision Notice.  The High Court may then investigate and deal with the non-compliant public authority as if it had committed a contempt of court.'

11 October 2019: The ICO writes that the Commissioner 'finds that the public interest favoursdisclosure of some of the information withheld' by WCC, and has given the council 35 days to send the requested information to us - ie by 15 November.

3 July 2019: The ICO writes: 'Having received the withheld information and the Council's submission I find that I have further queries on its application of the various exemptions included its revised response to you and the Commissioner.'

20 May 2019: The ICO wrote that Westminster: 'has not yet provided the Commissioner with the withheld information. I have already again requested this to be sent.'

3 May 2019: Four years after the Real Bread Campaign first began urging Pret a Manger to introduce full ingredient labelling, the company announces it has begun rolling this out in UK stores.

9 April 2019: ICO asked for a copy of the Campaign's original Trading Standards complaint of December 2016.

4 April 2019: Westminster defended its previous rejection of our FOI request, stating: 'In undertaking this review I have looked at whether disclosure of the information you have requested would be of detriment to the confider, Pret A Manger, and if they would have had an expectation that this information would remain private. I believe that there would have been an expectation that this information would not be shared and that information provided to WCC by Pret a Manger through a PA partnership is confidential and any discussions around the information would be deemed as such. Therefore the use of section 41 as an exemption regarding sharing any correspondence between WCC and Pret A Manger was correct.'

1 April 2019: Westminster contacted us noting that we had met with Pret, asking if we still needed them to conduct an internal review of their handling of the case and FOI request. We replied that we did.

28 March 2019: The ICO wrote: 'I have contacted the Council to ask for its explanation regarding the unacceptable delay in providing an internal review. I shall then progress to investigate the application of the section 41 exemption.' Westminster then responded to the request we made on 4 October 2018 to review their FOI refusal, apologising for the delay.

7 December 2018: The ICO responded to our complaint of 7 November 2018, saying they would investigate Westminster's handling of our FOI request.

15 November 2018: Sustain chief executive Kath Dalmeny and Real Bread Campaign coordinator Chris Young accepted an invitation to meet with Pret CEO Clive Schlee and Clare Clough. They advised that, amongst the changes Pret had made, were removing the word 'natural' from the company's logo and marketing, and trialling full ingredient listing.

13 November 2018: ASA advised: "Pret and they have confirmed that the page you are referring to is old content which was unfortunately missed in their previous review and which has now been removed."

5, 7, 8, 12 November 2018: As both the Westminster departments responsible for our FOI request and trading standards case continue failing to even respond to our most recent queries of 4 October and 7 August respectively, we have increased the frequency with which we are chasing them for full replies.

1 November 2018: As Pret is still making claims about the location, time and method of production, we asked the ASA if our only option at this point is to submit a brand new complaint about the specific elements they did not investigate before. We also asked what they will be doing aout the fact that Pret still claims to be 'avoiding obscure chemicals and additives common to so much 'prepared' and ‘fast’ food," which the ASA banned them from doing in April 2018.

We chased the FOI department of Westminster yet again for a response to our 4 October challenge to their refusal to provide any of the information requested on 7 August 2018. We also chased the former head of the department handling the case for details of her successor.

31 October 2018: The ASA restated that, as we had not objected to how it had summarised our complaint, it was our fault that they did not investigate every element of it. They went on to say that it is too late to reopen the case or to complain about the decision.

29 October 2018: We submitted a complaint to the ICO regarding Westminster's handling of our FOI request.

24 October 2018: The ASA asserted that "there are insufficient grounds for reviewing our decision." They added: "It appears that you are now asserting that we misinterpreted your original complaint and in response to that, we would point out that you were given ample opportunity, during the course of the investigation which spanned many months, to correct us if we had misinterpreted your complaint."

We also chased the FOI department at Westminster yet again for a response to our 4 October challenge to their refusal to provide any of the information requested on 7 August 2018.

19 October 2018: The ASA replied by declining to our request of 9 October to review its decision, saying "As you know, your previous complaint did not consider “freshness” claims or claims implying that Pret doesn’t sell ‘factory food’." On 22 October, we replied with a copy of the complaint, pointing out that it included both of those points,

17 October 2018: We chased the FOI department at Westminster for a response to our 4 October challenge to their refusal to provide any of the information requested on 7 August 2018.

12 October 2018: Westminster responded to our email of 9 October by suggesting that, if we feel a formal complaint needs to be made, we should direct this to our local authority.We replied by reminding them that this was an element of the complaint we submitted on 20 December 2018, and yet again asked for them to break their vow of silence by telling us how the case is progessing. As our main contact advised that she had moved to a different department, we asked for details of her successor.

9 October 2018: In light of the Daily Mail report that Pret buys baguettes made in a factory in France, then rebakes these factory products and sells them, potentially up to 12 months after manufacture, the Campaign emailed the ASA and Westminster, asking each to review the December 2016 complaints about the company’s freshness claims, and those implying it does not sell ‘factory food’.

4 October 2018: The Campaign publically welcomed Clive Schlee's pledge that Pret would begin full ingredient listing. The Campaign also challenged Westminster's refusal to provide any of the information requested under FOI on the grounds that Westminster had:

• Provided a blanket response which cannot possibly apply to all of the information, documents and correspondence requested, some of which is likely to be devoid of confidential information or, at least, could readily be redacted. Further, some of the correspondence, discussions between officers about how to handle the situation, etc. will be internal, not involve Pret directly and so not be subject to any confidentially clause you might have agreed with them.
• Made no attempt to answer the outstanding questions.

2 October 2018: The Campaign emailed Clive Schlee, asking him again for replies to the five questions originally sent in June 2015.

28 September 2018: Responding to our complaint of 7 August 2018 about Westminster's handling of the Pret case, a Local Government Ombudsman investigator wrote: "I will not investigate this complaint. This is because Mr X has not suffered a significant personal injustice. Nor is an investigation likely to lead to a different outcome. And we cannot achieve the outcome he is seeking. Also, I have not seen any reason why Mr X cannot complain to the ICO about the Council’s decision not to provide information he has requested."

27 September 2018: We again asked Westminster for a revised ETA on the information they promised we would receive by 6 September in response to our Freedom of Information Act request. They responded by refusing to give the requested information:

"...we have decided to withhold the information. Details of the brand evolution programme, including the implementation timetable and end date, were provided to Westminster Council in confidence and in good faith. Equally, whilst Pret are happy to discuss details of the brand evolution programme with the City Council in face to face meetings it constitutes Pret’s valuable confidential information and is information which, for bona fide business reasons, Pret would not wish to be in the hands of competitors or suppliers. Under section 17 of the [Freedom of Information ] Act this response constitutes a refusal notice."

25 September 2018: We again asked Westminster for a revised ETA on the information they promised we would receive by 6 September in response to our Freedom of Information Act request

20 September 2018: We again asked Westminster for a revised ETA on the information they promised we would receive by 6 September in response to our Freedom of Information Act request

13 September 2018: We again asked Westminster for a revised ETA on the information they promised we would receive by 6 September in response to our Freedom of Information Act request

10 September 2018: We asked Westminster for a revised ETA on the information they promised we would receive by 6 Septemberin response to our Freedom of Information Act request

6 September 2018: As 20 working days had passed since we submitted the FOI request to Westminster on 7 August, we asked when we could expect the information. We also asked for answers to the two, simple questions we have asked repeatedly since 26 April, most recently in a revised form on 22 August. "There was a fair amount to look through and establish what we could or couldn’t disclose. The advice we have given Pret was based on a timeline of implementation which I believe will form part of the response you get to your request. I will chase the officers involved today to progress this with the minimum of further delay."

As 20 working days had also passed since we escalated our complaint about Westminster's handling of the case, we called Local Government Ombudsman for an update only to be advised the case hadn’t even been allocated yet.

22 August 2018: Westminster - "I was hoping though that you have noticed that many of the stores are now using new wording on their product labelling, cups, napkins and signage generally? We would welcome your thoughts on this and hope it helps demonstrate the progress that is taking place." We replied that we had not and asked: "Do you mean that Westminster has advised/instructed Pret to stop using the word natural in its marketing and if so, what form has this guidance/instruction taken and until what date have you given the company to comply?"

21 August 2018: Despite everything outlined below, the Chief Executive of Westminster City Council rejected our complaint about the delay in resolving our as-yet unresolved complaint of 20 December 2016 about Pret, or the lack of transparency while the case is ongoing.

7 August 2018: Having still not received a response to the Stage 2 complaint we submitted on 1 May 2018, we escalated the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman, the auto response to which promised a response within 20 working days. With Westminster also continuing to refuse to answer our questions, we also submitted a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to Westminster for the following related to the issues raised by Real Bread Campaign’s complaint of December 2016:

1. Copies of all correspondence (in all media) between Westminster City Council and Pret a Manager
2. Minutes of all meetings between Westminster City Council and Pret a Manager
3. Copies of all internal and other correspondence and documentation related to the matter
4. Full details of all calls between Westminster City Council and Pret a Manager

31 July 2018: For the ninth time in three months, we chased Westminster for answers to the two questions we sent on 26 April. Westminster yet again avoided answering, instead responding: "I can only repeat what I have already said - that we are continuing to speak to Pret in our Primary Authority capacity about their wording and monitoring their progress."

26 July 2018: Westminster: "This is to let you know that the Stage 2 complaint is still under investigation.  I am liaising with the service and will be preparing a draft response for clearance.  A response will be sent to you by Monday 6th August 2018."

24 July 2018: Two weeks after the person handling the Stage 2 complaint advised that he aimed to respond "by early next week", and over a month since he first promised it "within 10 working days" we chased him for a resolution. We also chased answers to our questions of 26 April.

12 July 2018: Westminster: "I am liaising with Trading Standards colleagues as part of the Stage 2 investigation, and aim to respond to you by early next week." We chased answers to our questions of 26 April.

10 July 2018: Fourteen working days since Westminter promised a response to Stage 2 Chief Executive review request within 10 working days, we have yet to receive the also-promised acknowledgment, let alone a full reply. We chased this and answers to our questions of 26 April.

20 June 2018: We chased Westminster for replies to our questions of 26 April and response to our Stage 2 complaint of their handling of the case. We received a reply that they had not processed our Stage 2 complaint of 1 May as, at that point, they had no record of a Stage 1 complaint and that they had not received our emails of 21 May and 5 June. "You will receive a formal acknowledgement, and a response will be sent to you within 10 working days from today." Still no reply to our questions of 26 April.

6 June 2018: We rephrased our questions to Westminster of 26 April as: "What is causing further delay in you fulfilling your duty to protect consumers in Westminster from Pret’s misleading marketing messages in its branding and in its stores? What deadline have you given to Pret to remove these misleading messages?"

5 June 2018: Westminster: "We are continuing to work with Pret in terms of their branding. As I’ve said this is being done through advice via our PA partnership with the company. We are happy with their proposals to date, and the discussions continue."

5 June 2018: We chased Westminster for answers to the questions in our email of 26 April and a timescale for their Stage 2 response.

22 May 2018: Westminster sent a copy of their Stage 1 response, without advising the timescale to the Stage 2 response.

21 May 2018: We asked Westminster for confirmation of receipt of our Stage 2 Chief Executive review request and a timescale for a response.

3 May 2018: Westminster sent their response to a Stage 1 complaint that we had not formally submitted.

1 May 2018: With no reply from Westminster to our email of 26 April, we followed the escalation procedure they had advised by requesting a Stage 2 Chief Executive review of the handling of the case.

26 April 2018: We replied to Westminster, asking: "What is causing further delay in you concluding your investigation, and taking action? When can we (and the residents of and shoppers in Westminster and beyond who continue to be at risk of being misled by Pret’s claims) expect a conclusion?"

25 April 2018: It is a week since the ASA ruled that Pret’s ‘natural food’ claim is misleading and banned the company from making this claim, the ‘thorough decision’ upon which Westminster advised its own position would rely. Westminster were in fact prepared for this almost two months ago by the draft ruling they received on 28 February, and quite possibly before by communications between the ASA and the department. Despite this, Westminster still has not reached its own conclusion to the 16 month-long case, let alone taken action to protect the residents of, and shoppers in, Westminster from Pret's 'misleading' claims. “I realise that this process is taking time; the ASA ruling took some time and our ongoing discussions with Pret are also progressing to our satisfaction.” At the fourth time of asking, Westminster send details of the procedure for escalating a complaint about the department’s handling of the case, which they call a Stage 2 Chief Executive review.

19 April 2018: We asked Westminster the direct question: “Does your department investigate complaints about potentially misleading in-store marketing messages by traders operating in your borough and, where appropriate, issue guidance to the trader, followed by enforcement action if necessary? If yes, please reply to our previous questions. If no, please redirect us to the appropriate authority for such a complaint and advise why nobody from your department gave this advice over a year ago.”

18 April 2018: Westminster “our role in Westminster is as Primary Authority for Pret a Manger. As previously set out, this role is a partnership aimed at ensuring a business is able to receive advice and guidance from a single point of contact. This role is not one of taking enforcement action across the whole of the company’s outlets. Where an individual local enforcement authority, or certain other regulators wish to take action, they do so but ensure that we as their PA are aware. Your original complaint was, correctly, to your own local authority Hackney Trading Standards  - who chose not to take enforcement action, but to refer it to us (the Environmental Health Food Team in fact) as PA in order for us to advise them. This is what we are continuing to do and as you rightly say all parties now have the final, published ASA ruling to assist us in that. There are, as you know, pieces of legislation and other guidance available to inform the advice we give the company, and which may or may not create criminal offences. We have been cognisant of these in our discussions to date, and will continue to be so. [...] we are very clear about our role and are fulfilling it appropriately.”

18 April 2018: ASA bans Pret's 'misleading' natural food ads. The Campaign yet again chased Westminster for answers.

5 April 2018: Chased Westminster for a response to the questions in our email of 21 March.

4 April 2018: ASA sent their council's ruling on the complaint to us, Pret and Westminster. This will be published on 18 April 2018 and the details are under embargo until then.

3 April 2018: Asked ASA for an update.

29 March 2018: Chased Westminster for a response to the questions in our email of 21 March.

23 March 2018: Westminster appeared to be deferring to the ASA, responding that “The ASA have ultimate authority to decide how Pret’s advertising media should change going forward if it is required to.” We again pointed out that the parallel complaint we sent to TS was about claims that fall outside the ASA’s remit, eg on napkins, shop wall and window signs and posters, product packaging etc.

21 March 2018: We replied to Westminster saying that, more than a year since we submitted our complaint, we don’t need a meeting, we need final answers. We listed specific questions that summarised our complaint, plus what actions they would take in light of their findings, asking they give us full replies by the end of the week. To give us a full picture of why this case has taken the department fifteen months already, we also requested details of all actions, meetings, conversations and copies of all correspondence related to investigating our complaint.

19 March 2018: Chased Westminster again for an update. They replied that “the most appropriate course of action is to await the decision by the independent regulators of advertising across all media (ASA).” We replied pointing out that the ASA only covers advertising, which is why we submitted a related but separate complaint regarding marketing claims made by Pret in other media (point of sale material, napkins, posters, signs, labels, packaging etc.) outside the ASA’s remit. They replied inviting us for a meeting, we responded that they simply reply by email as it would be quicker for both parties. They responded that 'We feel that there is an issue here that cannot be addressed by email. The questions you have raised are very pointed and to answer them alone would not explain the entirety of this situation.”

13 March 2018: Chased Westminster again for an update.

8 March 2018: Chased Westminster again for an update.

1 March 2018: Following up on the conversation with Westminster on 18 January, when the guidance was that the investigation would reach a conclusion in ‘weeks, rather than months,’ the Campaign emailed yet again to ask for an ETA on publication of a decision.

28 February 2018: The Campaign received the ASA's updated draft resolution, which - unless challenged again by Pret - will go to the ASA council for its ruling. The ASA also advised that, more than a year after receiving the complaint, it had at last sought advice on the case from the Food Standards and Labelling Focus Group, a working group with members from the Trading Standards Association, the Food Standards Agency, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department of Health.

9 February 2018: ASA “This case is one of our longest running ongoing investigations and, as with the small number of other cases that run on far longer than average, this is primarily down to the complexity of the issues raised. That has required us latterly to seek views from outside the ASA [...] I think we should be able to get the updated draft recommendation to you within the next two weeks. Once we have done that we envisage reaching an outcome not long after. This is always dependent on the responses we receive to the recommendation, but we would hope that to be by mid or late March.”

6 February 2018: The operations manager of the ASA investigations team advised that the officer investigating the complaint is on sick leave. “I am trying to create enough space in my own calendar to review the file in the hope that I am able to issue the draft recommendation in [her] absence. Either [she] or I will be back in touch with you next week to provide an update on when we expect to be able to get the draft recommendation to you.” The Campaign replied asking for details of why this case is taking so long.

1 February 2018: As the ASA had estimated it would conclude its investigation by the end of January, the Campaign emailed ASA asking for an ETA on its new Draft Recommendation to the ASA Council.

18 January 2018: An officer from Westminster called the Real Bread Campaign, advising that the investigation was ongoing and they were unable to give any details “until it is out in the public domain.” Asked why it has taken more than a year so far, and what the process was, they replied that “the big wheel is turning and until it has, the little wheels can't turn.” They would not explain what this meant but that things “would all become clear when it is out in the public domain.” They also advised that, as a Primary Authority, their main role is to work with and advise a company. When challenged on this with the understanding that their main role is to protect consumers, they repeated their previous assertion. They indicated that the case might reach a conclusion in “weeks, rather than months.”

15 January 2018: Chased Westminster for a reply to the email of 10 November

4 January 2018: Chased Westminster for a reply to the email of 10 November

20 December 2017: A year to the day since making its original complaints, the Real Bread Campaign chased Westminster for a reply to the email of 10 November and asked again when a decision could be expected.

28 November 2017: ASA “We have received a lengthy response from Pret to the Draft Recommendation and there is also the issue you have raised regarding the FSA Guidance in relation to issue 1, so there are still outstanding points that we need to deal with. I would hope that we can conclude the investigation by the end of January, but that is just an estimate.”

27 November 2017: The Campaign emailed ASA asking for an ETA on a new Draft Recommendation to the ASA Council, following the extended 10 November comment deadline it set.

20 November 2017: Eleven months since ASA and Westminster began investigating Pret's advertising and other marketing claims.
10 November 2017: The Campaign replied to Westminster, asking for their assurance that they are also:
a) Working on all of the concerns we outlined in our complaint, not just with regard to Pret’s mission statement.
b)    mindful not only of the economic impact on the business under investigation, but also of the economic impact on small, independent businesses in the sector – and impact upon shoppers, who we believe are being misled.

9 November 2017: The key points of a 255 word email from Westminster: “…unfortunately we are still not able to provide you with a final outcome regards your concerns about the Pret A Manger’s “mission statement.”  Pret has been told that we do not fully endorse the mission statement […] as a regulator, we have to be mindful of the economic impact that our advice or enforcement action has and that the improvements in compliance are fair and proportionate.  Please be advised that due to the complex issues involved, it will take time to reach a final position and further time for the company to implement change; if so required […] We shall continue to work in partnership with Pret A Manger to achieve the above aims and compliance to all legal requirements.  Once this process has reached a conclusion, we shall be in a position to provide you with an update.”

7 November 2017: The Campaign emailed Westminster again asking for a response to the email of 23 October. Westminster replied: “I apologise for the delay with our response to your email. We aim to respond to your enquiry tomorrow.”

31 October 2017: The Campaign emailed Westminster asking for a response to the email of 23 October.

31 October 2017: ASA “We have allowed Pret to have an extension until 10 November for commenting on the Draft Recommendation.”

23 October 2017: After a tenth month of waiting, the Campaign emailed Westminster requesting an update.

20 October 2017: Ten months after receiving the complaint, the ASA sent a copy of its investigation team's draft recommendation for the ASA Council. The Campaign replied with comments on the draft ruling.

28 September 2017: Westminster: “We appreciate it has been 9 months but this is still something that is live and we are continuing to work with Pret on this in order to resolve. We recognise that there are potential issues associated with [Pret's] mission statement so please rest assured that we are following this up and dealing with your concerns. We have meetings arranged with Pret on these issues and we are hoping to get this resolved as soon as we can.”

26 September 2017: ASA: “We have been liaising with Trading Standards. Now we are at the stage where we can draft a recommendation and I am going to do this over the next couple of weeks. I will send this out to you and the advertisers as soon as I can.”

25 September 2017: The Campaign followed up the queries sent on the 20th.

20 September 2017: Nine months after it submitted the complaints, the Campaign asked ASA and Westminster for progress reports on their investigations and ETA for completion/decisions.

8 August 2017: Westminster: “We are continuing to work with Pret on this and are currently finalising a list of ingredients. The next stage is to get expert advice on this so we are in consultation with the Public Analysis now.”

19 July 2017: ASA: “I have been liaising with my colleague who is expert in food issues. We have decided to re-word issue 2 in response the comments set out in your email of 5 June. We now have a better understanding of your complaint and think that the wording below adequately expresses that. In terms of timing, we intend to contact Trading Standards as they gave advice to Pret in relation to the claims in 2011. I am waiting for Pret to provide the appropriate contact information.”

12 July 2017: ASA: “I am meeting with my food specialist colleague on Friday to discuss Pret’s latest response. I cannot be more specific than that about timing at this stage.”

11 July 2017: ASA: “As you know, this is a complex case and we have been liaising extensively with Pret. I have also been liaising with colleagues in the department who are expert in the food rules. The latest is that I contacted Pret with outstanding queries and they have responded today. I will need to discuss their response with colleagues before I can prepare a draft recommendation.”

4 July 2017: ASA: “I have arranged a meeting for next Friday with Pret to see what the current situation is and to see what our next steps will be.”

16 June 2017: Westminster: “I sincerely apologise that you have not received response to your concerns in relation to claims made by Pret. This is exceptional situation which occurred because the officers who were dealing with your request unfortunately left the council. I would like to reassure you that they raised your concerns with Pret and this will be followed up by the new officers who are copied into this email. We will review your complaint and ensure that it is fully investigated.”

16 May 2017: ASA: “I have been out of the office for several weeks on extended sick leave and it is my first day back in the office today. I understand that a colleague has been liaising with Pret in relation to the complaint and that we should be in a position to update you again within three weeks, if not before.”

2 May 2017: The Campaign requested an update on progress from ASA and Westminster. The Campaign received an automatic response from Westminster that the main person dealing with the case no longer worked there.  We redirected our message and was asked for a case reference. We replied that we had not been given a reference for the case but pointed out the other officer working on the case should have the details. The reply was that she was on maternity leave.

23 March 2017: ASA advised that the case was under investigation.

8 March 2017: Westminster advised that the case is still under investigation and that they will be meeting Pret again in April.

15 February 2017: Westminster: “I have a meeting with Pret a Manger this coming Monday regarding your complaint. I will update you after the meeting.”

31 January 2017: Westminster advised it is investigating the complaint.

27 January 2017: Hackney TS advised that it had passed the complaint on to Westminster City Council, Pret a Manger's Primary Authority.

23 January 2017: ASA advised it is investigating the complaint.

12 January 2017: Real Bread Campaign followed up the complaints.

20 December 2016: The Real Bread Campaign submitted complaints to both the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and Hackney Trading Standards (TS) department.