Pret A Manger prepares for sandwich battle

British fast food chain due to open first outlet in Shanghai's newest mall

A battle is about to commence on Oct 16 at the back lobby in K11, one of Shanghai's recent shopping mall and office developments, a battle not fought with guns and rifles but with Scottish salmon and egg mayonnaise.

It is a battle about sandwiches, the triangular slices of bread filled with delicious fillings that have been sold from street side groceries at less than one dollar to the most high-end Western-style restaurants on the Bund, replacing dumplings and rice as the major staple at lunch for millions of office workers in Shanghai and the rest of China.