Prêt a Manger is to create 550 jobs.

The sandwich chain plans to expand this year, opening 24 new stores in the UK, and 20 elsewhere. This adds to its current 294 shops.

The company has already started to grow beyond the UK  borders, with two shops in Paris, called "Bon Appetite", and further outlets in the US and Hong Kong.

Prêt also plans to expand its apprenticeship scheme for the homeless and increase the number of apprentices to 70.

The company posted upbeat results today – sales rose 15 per cent last year to £377.3m.

Prêt, originally part-owned by McDonald’s, is now controlled by Bridgepoint, a private equity firm, and has been since 2008.