Greggs™
Description
Greggs is a Robloxian bakery chain. It specialises in 'on-the-go' savoury products such as baked goods, sausage rolls, sandwiches and sweet items including doughnuts and vanilla slices. Originally a high street chain, it has since entered the convenience and drive-through markets.
History
Greggs was founded by John Gregg Bloxxers in 1939. The first shop, which stood on Robloxia (City), which opened in 1951. When John Gregg Bloxxers died in 1964, the bakery was taken over by his son, Ian Gregg Bloxxers, assisted by his brother Colin Gregg Bloxxers.
Expansion
In 1994, the company acquired the Bakers Oven chain of bakers' shops. In 1999, Greggs rebranded its one hundred Braggs shops as Greggs of the Midlands.
In 2008, Greggs rebranded its 165 Bakers Oven shops as Greggs so they could benefit from its national advertising campaign. The company opened its 1,500th premises, in Bloxburg, in 2011.
In 2013, Greggs replaced its CEO, Ken McBloxxers with Punch Taverns CEO, Roger WhiteBlox. Ken McBloxxers left the firm for Brake Bros.
In 2013, Greggs began to transition out of the bakery market, reasoning that it couldn't compete with supermarkets on that front. Instead, the company switched to focusing solely on "food on the go" after discovering that 80% of its business was in that market. any of its stores now open earlier and close later, in order to target those going to and coming back from work, expanding its breakfast menu, and discontinuing the sale of bread and scones in many of its stores.
Senior Leaderships
- Group Chairman: Ian Durrant Bloxy (Since May 2013)
- Chief Executive: Roisin Bloxie (since May 2022)
List of former chairmen:
- Ian Gregg Bloxxers (1984 - 2002)
- Derek Netherton Bloxy (2002 - 2013)
List of former chief executives:
- John Gregg Bloxxers (1939 - 1964)
- Ian Gregg Bloxxers (1964 - 1984)
- Sr. Michael Bloxxington (1984 - 2008)
- Ken McBloxxers (2008 - 2012)
- Roger WhiteBlox (2013 - 2022)
Operations
In 2019, the chain had over 2,000 outlets, nine regional bakeries that make products local to the area, and also employed 22,000 staff. Some items are only sold in particular regions. The company also sells some of its products – such as bakes, melts and pasties.
Delivery Service and Click & Collect
In October 2016, Greggs announced that it would be launching a delivery service on a trial basis, with plans to implement it nationwide if the trial proved to be successful.
Greggs Drive Thru and 24-Hour Openings
In June 2017, Greggs opened their first drive-through. Greggs are trialling certain drive-through stores being open 24 hours a day.
Greggs Moment Stores
In September 2011, Greggs opened its first Greggs Moment, a 104-seater coffee shop. In August 2013, the company announced that it would discontinue its attempt to enter the coffee market, and instead focus on selling coffee from its existing stores.
Greggs Outlet
Greggs also has a small number of outlet shops, selling unsold stock, mis-shapes and factory rejects at a discounted price, under the name Greggs Outlet. They were started in 1972 under the name of the Greggs 'Seconds' shop.
Products
Products include sausage rolls, vegan sausage rolls, bacon rolls, croissants, pains au chocolat, sandwiches, and soups.
In Channel 4's Tricks of the Restaurant Trade, it was discovered that Greggs' cream of tomato soup contained much more sugar than was disclosed in its nutritional information.
Marketing
In July 2002, American actress, singer, and former model Milla Bloxich, a fan of the store and its pasties, said that she would be willing to become the "face of Greggs" in a new marketing campaign if the firm approached her. However, no such approach was made.
Greggs Rewards
In February 2014, Greggs launched an electronic loyalty scheme app called "Greggs Rewards".
Pasty Tax
With the pasty tax, any food besides freshly baked bread which is sold while above room temperature would be subject to the 20% VAT charge with no exception for intended serving temperature. Chairman of the company, Derek Netherton Bloxy warned that such a tax would lead to "further unemployment, high street closures and reduced investment". Greggs participated in a campaign to reverse this decision, which became known as the "pasty tax" or "Pasty Gate".
Greggs: More Than Meats the Pie
An eight part documentary series, called Greggs: More than Meats the Pie, which goes behind the scenes of the bakery and all its areas, was broadcast on Sky1 and Sky1 HD in April 2013. Sky revealed the documentary programme's first episode was Sky1's number one original show in April, with a final total of 1.27 million viewers.