Pret a Manger appoints first chief supply chain officer

Pret a Manger has announced the appointment of former Lidl GB executive, Stefan Porter, in the newly-created chief supply chain officer role. 

News of the appointment follows a period of growth for the business as it enters new territories. 

Porter joins from hospitality operator Azzurri Group, where he served as group commercial director, managing purchasing, sustainability and technical standards for brands including Ask Italian, Zizzi and Coco di Mama. 

He also spent eight years at Lidl GB as senior buying director, in which he led several buying teams and managed supplier relations within the grocery retail category. 

In his new role at Pret a Manger, Porter will be responsible for managing global procurement and logistics during the sandwich chain’s international expansion. 

His remit at Pret will cover logistics, technical standards and sustainability across all international markets. 

Pano Christou, chief executive of Pret A Manger, said: “I’m excited to welcome Stefan to Pret. With his strong commitment to food quality, combined with his deep industry expertise and commercially minded approach, I believe he will be a great asset to us as we continue to grow the brand.”

Porter added: “I am excited to be joining the Pret team and supporting their ambitious plans. I’ve long been a customer and fan of Pret’s freshly made food and coffee and I look forward to bringing my skills, passion and experience to the business at this period of growth.”