"Put simply MaxOptra allows us to do more. We have the same number of vehicles, the same number of drivers, yet we are able to feed an additional 1,000 people each and every day."

Pret-run charity the Pret Foundation collects surplus and unsold food, which would otherwise go to waste, and delivers it to charities and community groups across the UK. In London, the Pret Foundation operates its own fleet of vehicles collecting from around 200 stores, 365 days- a-year, delivering to more than 20 frontline organisations.

Pret a Manger implemented MaxOptra to boost deliveries of free meals to vulnerable and homeless people across London. Using the MaxOptra system to schedule and manage deliveries in real-time, the fresh food retailer has been able to deliver an additional 1,000 meals every day.

In addition to the increase in capacity achieved through more intelligent scheduling and smarter route planning, MaxOptra also helped Pret manage its mobile activities through the use of the MaxOptra Driver App. Changes to planned activity were communicated directly to drivers, and records of collections completed and deliveries made were automatically logged in the back-office system.

MaxOptra also gave fleet managers at Pret the ability to balance driver and vehicle use, control emissions and costs and, through integration with in-cab tracking and dash cams, improve health and safety monitoring.

The Pret Foundation aimed to alleviate poverty in the UK by helping to break the cycle of homelessness. Established by Pret founders Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair Beecham in 1995, the Foundation was funded by donations made through the sale of selected products and contributions to collection boxes in shops.

In addition to the charity’s food programme, the Pret Foundation’s Rising Stars programme offered homeless people real jobs and provided the support required—including food, travel, and accommodation—to help them succeed and thrive.