Evaluating Pret a Mangers Ethical Policies Essay Example

Evaluating Pret a Mangers Ethical Policies Essay Example Evaluating Pret a Mangers Ethical Policies Essay Evaluating Pret a Mangers Ethical Policies Essay Pret a Manger (informally known as Pret), founded in 1986 by Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair Beecham, is a private partnership that never franchises out and therefore its accounts are not open to the public (Pret, 2007).   The company sees this as an advantage as it allows it to grow at a speed it feels is appropriate without the pressure that is afforded a company accountable to the public (Pret, 2007).   Pret has incorporated strict ethics in its company policies governing the sourcing of fresh produce to be utilised in their handmade products, the treatment of their workers and the working atmosphere they created and more recently have included policies on the now popular environmental subject â€Å"sustainability† (Pret, 2007).   However, there have been actions taken by the company that customers and observers have criticised as being in contrast to their supposed ethical policies.   This includes the selling of one third of the company to McDonalds, and establishmen t renowned for its policy of putting profit before ethics band being involved in environmental destruction, cheap labour and packing their food full of additives (Walsh, 2006). Produce and Products Pret a Manger has a self serving reputation for being fanatical about the freshness and cleanness of the produce they use.   They favour natural products, utilise organic milk and freedom farm meats (endorsed by the RSPCA).   They have made improvements to cater their sustainability drive and now have the so called â€Å"bio box† and use recyclable packaging as well as sourcing sustainable sources of food and avoiding the use of chemicals which they term as â€Å"sacred† to Pret (Pret, 2007).   It is a characteristic that they only use the freshest of products and never keep food over night. Staff and Customers Pret a Manger also go to great lengths to keep their staff content in their jobs and in an industry that notoriously forces staff to work longer hours for low wages, Pret pays well above the minimum wage and offers work in manageable shifts, as well as offering perks such as increased wages, bonuses and items including silver Tiffany stars for achievements or when a customer recommends their work.   It is an interesting fact that over 60% of Pret managers started out as team members (Pret, 2007).   In addition, Pret is a partner with Forum for the Future in particular reference to their exceptional behaviour as an employer (Forum for the Future, 2007).   Staff and customers are welcome to give input into the running of the company.   Every week a mystery shopper visits each store to check on the quality of the produce and the level of customer service provided (Pret, 2007). Charity and Social Work As pret does not keep food over night, something has to be done with any leftover at the end of the day.   Instead of sending them to landfill, Pret runs a drive to offer their food to homeless people through shelters and charitable donations.   In fact, they distribute approximately 12000 meals each week (Pret, 2007).   The spare food is either collected by particular charities or distributed by the Pret Foundation Trust set up in 1995 which, is funded by customer donations and income from particular products and is a fleet of electric vans (in another effort to offset carbon emissions) (Pret, 2007).   The company is always on the lookout for more homeless charities to support, especially where certain stores as yet, do not have a designated charity. McDonalds Investment For the most part, Pret a Manger have been arguably, one of the most ethical brand names to date in many areas, there is no question that they carry out their policies as far as is possible.   There is one major sticking point however, and for most people that is the third share held by the multi-conglomerate corporation McDonalds   Albeit a minority share, at 33 per cent, it is a large slice of the company (Walsh, 2006).   Many Pret admirers are sceptical of McDonalds input into the company.   The concept of a comparatively small, socially aware retail outlet, teaming up with a multinational company known for its social, environmental and ethical ineptitude and singular focus on on wealth accumulation, seems to be a contradiction in terms, although with McDonalds input, Pret has been able to expand over seas, which may be good for Pret financially, but the question remains, have they sold out, ethically?   It may be fair to say that it is certainly looking as though Pret h as sold out on its ethical policies although it maintains that it still has full control over its activities despite McDonalds involvement. Conclusion Pret a Manger has a range of prominent and competent ethical policies covering all aspects of relevant corporate social responsibility, from the welfare of their workforce to sourcing their produce with due care to the environment and environmental standards, making charitable donations and searching for advances in recycling and and ways to reduce their carbon emissions and providing a â€Å"cradle to grave† attitude towards the packaging and non-edible waste they produce.   Despite this ethical proficiency, a question mark continues to hang over the decision to sell one third of the company to McDonalds fast food chain and the possible negative affects on Prets ethical policy that this association may have.