The upmarket sandwich chain, which is part-owned by McDonald's, is currently testing consumer reaction to the plan through a trial at a small number of outlets that are not selling Coca-Cola products.
Simon Hargreaves, head of commercial at Pret A Manger UK, told Marketing that the importance of Coke in its drinks range is 'declining'. 'We like to say we are a natural company with natural ingredients and that is not true of all Coke products,' he said.
Hargreaves added that nearly all products sold at Pret A Manger outlets are own-branded, with Coca-Cola the exception.
Two years ago Pret launched a range of seven sparkling natural soft drinks under the Pure Pret brand.
Next month the chain, which has 127 outlets in the UK, is to relaunch its still drinks range, which comprises just two variants.
The decision is due in part to criticism it has received over the drinks' sugar content. The reformulated range will comprise five low-sugar fruit-juice drinks in flavours including orange, lemon barley and elderflower.
At the end of 2003, Pret reported a £20m loss, which it blamed on its aggressive overseas expansion in the US.
Pret's British operation is still profitable, but the number of stores has shrunk slightly from 132 in 2003 to 127.
Competition from rivals such as Subway has also put the brand under pressure.
Between 1999 and 2003 Subway quadrupled its UK presence from 38 outlets to more than 150. Pret's growth rate over the same period was a more modest 65%.
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