Animal welfare campaigners have launched a high-profile protest against Pret A Manger in central London, unveiling a car-sized mechanical ‘frankenchicken’ wrap outside the brand’s Oxford Circus store.
The striking installation, featuring a whole chicken complete with feathers stuffed inside a giant Pret-style wrap, marks the start of a week-long campaign led by animal welfare charity Anima. The group plans to visit 15 Pret locations across the capital as part of a £1 million public awareness drive.
The campaign targets the café chain over its decision to delay a previous commitment to stop sourcing fast-growing chickens. Pret initially pledged in 2018 to phase out such breeds by 2026, but has since pushed the deadline back to 2032. According to Anima, the company has yet to transition any of its supply to slower-growing, higher welfare chickens.
Connor Jackson, Chief Executive of Anima, criticised the move, claiming it falls short of consumer expectations.
“Pret’s so-called commitment is simply a cover for its continued inaction,” he said. “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 eight years since Pret committed to phasing out frankenchickens, it has not transitioned one single chicken to a higher welfare breed.”
Jackson added that the charity had previously attempted to resolve the issue privately.
“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.”
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Alongside the travelling installation, the campaign will extend across London’s transport network, with advertisements set to appear on the Underground. Full-page newspaper adverts highlighting the issue are also scheduled to run throughout the week.
Anima is urging members of the public to take action by pledging to avoid Pret A Manger until the company begins transitioning to slower-growing chicken breeds.
The campaign places renewed scrutiny on welfare standards within the fast-casual dining sector, as consumer expectations around ethical sourcing continue to rise.
