What Does EAT. Do?

Total employees484
HeadquartersLondon
Founded1996

EAT. (formerly trading as EAT. Ltd.) was a prominent British high-street food-to-go retailer, specializing in freshly made sandwiches, soups, salads, hot pots, and coffee. Founded in 1996 by Niall and Faith MacArthur, EAT. grew to operate over 90 outlets, primarily concentrated in London, but also in other major UK cities and travel hubs. The brand was known for its focus on fresh ingredients and diverse menu options. In May 2019, EAT. was acquired by Pret A Manger. Following the acquisition, most EAT. locations were converted into 'Veggie Pret' stores, dedicated to vegetarian and vegan food, or closed down, effectively ending the EAT. brand's independent presence.

Where Is EAT.'s Headquarters?

HQ Function

Historically served as the central hub for management, operations, product development, marketing, finance, and administrative functions for the EAT. chain.

Notable Features:

Specific architectural details are not widely publicized; it was likely a modern office space configured to support a dynamic retail food business, emphasizing collaboration and operational efficiency.

Work Culture:

Historically, the work culture at EAT.'s HQ would have been fast-paced and focused on retail excellence, food quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, supporting the frontline store operations.

HQ Significance:

The HQ was historically significant as the nerve center for a popular UK high-street brand, orchestrating its growth, brand identity, and daily operations across numerous locations before its acquisition.

Values Reflected in HQ: The HQ environment likely aimed to reflect EAT.'s core values such as freshness, quality, customer service, and efficiency, which were central to its brand proposition.

Location:

EAT. Ltd.'s operations were primarily concentrated within the United Kingdom, with a strong presence in London and other major UK cities. The company did not have a significant international operational footprint before its acquisition by Pret A Manger in 2019. Its focus remained on the domestic UK food-to-go market.

Street Address:

95 Southwark Street

City:

London

State/Province:

Greater London

Country:

United Kingdom

Where Else Does EAT. Operate Around the World?

No additional office locations available.

Buying Intent Signals for EAT.

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading EAT.? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, EAT.' leadership includes:

Arnaud Frichet - Former Chief Executive Officer (at time of acquisition)
Niall MacArthur - Co-founder and Former Director
Faith MacArthur - Co-founder and Former Brand Director

Who's Investing in EAT.?

EAT. has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Lyceum Capital (Private equity firm that owned EAT. prior to its sale to Pret A Manger)
Penta Capital (Previous private equity owner before Lyceum Capital)

What Leadership Changes Has EAT. Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

EAT. Ltd. was acquired by Pret A Manger in 2019 and ceased to operate as an independent entity. Consequently, there have been no executive new hires or exits specifically for EAT. Ltd. in the last 12 months, as the company is no longer active in its original form.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byEAT.?

Discover the tools EAT. uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

EAT. Email Formats and Examples

As EAT. Ltd. is no longer an operating company, its corporate email domain (historically associated with eat.co.uk) is inactive. Based on common UK corporate structures for a company of its size and time, email formats likely included variations of first name and last name.

Historically, common formats might have been [first].[last]@eat.co.uk or [first_initial][last]@eat.co.uk.

Format

john.doe@eat.co.uk (hypothetical historical example)

Example

0%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About EAT.?

BBC NewsMay 23, 2019

EAT. Ltd. Acquired by Pret A Manger for Veggie Pret Expansion

Pret A Manger announced its acquisition of rival food-to-go chain EAT. in May 2019. The deal aimed to convert many of EAT.'s existing stores into 'Veggie Pret' outlets, significantly accelerating the expansion of Pret's vegetarian and vegan offerings. This strategic move marked the end of the EAT. brand as an independent competitor in the UK market....more

The GuardianOctober 24, 2019

Pret A Manger Confirms Closure of Some EAT. Branches Post-Acquisition

Following its acquisition of EAT., Pret A Manger confirmed that not all EAT. stores would be converted to Veggie Pret. A number of sites were scheduled for closure, impacting jobs and signaling a consolidation in the high street food retail landscape....more

Company Records / General Business ArchivesSeptember 10, 1996

EAT. Ltd. Founded in London

EAT. was founded in 1996 by Niall and Faith MacArthur, opening its first shop on Villiers Street in London. The company aimed to offer fresh, high-quality sandwiches, soups, and coffee, quickly establishing itself in the competitive London lunch market....more

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