[chiefalchemist]

It's like anything else: convenience, quickness, consistency, perception of cleanliness, habits of others around you, and so on.

If it's a group decision - and often enough it is - a place like Pret becomes the acceptable least common denominator. No one might love it, but more importantly no one probably hates it.

[barrkel]

I hate it, and I hate what it stands for. I mentally associaciate Pret with bankers, and I haven't forgetten about 2008.

I'm being facetious, but only just... I work in fintech, and I end up associating with a bunch of bankers, and I give those who still patronize Pret a bit of a hard time.

[chiefalchemist]

I'm not a fan either. But I recently read Jonah Berger's "Invisible Influence." Interesting stuff.