Money makers: a £215m fortune from sarnies

Julian Metcalfe, founder of Pret A Manger, made a fortune from transforming the way the country eats lunch.

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Julian Metcalf: transforming the way Britain eats lunch
(Image credit: 2013 Nick Harvey)

Julian Metcalfe transformed the way the country eats lunch, says Sabah Meddings in The Sunday Times. He founded Pret A Manger in 1986 with friend Sinclair Beecham. They bought their first shop in London while Metcalfe was working in real estate, and used a £5,000 inheritance from his grandmother to buy an oven. He handed his notice in when the shop began to break even. Since then, Pret has become a "ubiquitous presence" on Britain's high streets. Metcalfe now has a £215m fortune he sold Pret in 2008 to private-equity firm Bridgepoint for £364m and gave up his seat in the board. Last year, Pret sold to Germany's JAB Holding for £1.5bn.

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Nic studied for a BA in journalism at Cardiff University, and has an MA in magazine journalism from City University. She has previously worked for MoneyWeek.