The chief executive added sales were running at less than 20 per cent of normal levels.
He said the company made an effort to reduce its costs - including executive pay cuts - but it did not have enough funds to pay its rent in full.
The company said it will only pay 30 per cent of its rent as it battles losses of "tens of millions of pounds" each month because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The sandwich company is now struggling to pay its rent after being hit by the lockdown.
Pret - which has most of its branches near offices and airports - is worth £1.5billion.
Pret a Manger can only pay a third of its next rent bills after the coronavirus lockdown made sales decline, it has been reported.