Pret a Manger will cut 2,890 jobs as it reshapes its business to fit the new world of work.

The sandwich chain said that it would dismiss almost a third of its staff, reflecting “shorter opening hours, lower transaction levels and the losses faced by the business in 2020”.

Until the pandemic, Pret had been expanding to almost 400 UK stores and more than 100 overseas.

It is also in talks with landlords after slashing rent payments — in June it paid 30% of its quarterly rent bill.