Greggs Has Reopened A Small Number Of Shops

Greggs has reopened an undisclosed number of stores in the Tyneside area as it begins trials in a bid to get up and running once again.

The popular bakery is attempting to gradually reopen with a series of trials to try and combat the coronavirus lockdown.

PA

The trials, which are being conducted through different channels, including delivery, Click + Collect and also for walk-in customers, are expected to take at least two weeks.

According to the Mirror, there will also be a restricted product range (which will consist of coffees, pasties and cakes) and shorter trading hours will be in place.

In an update on the firm's website, Greggs' CEO Roger Whiteside said: "Since temporarily closing our shops, we've been working hard to get up and running again, and we are now undertaking some initial trials. To begin with, these trials will take place behind closed doors in order to test a number of new operational safety measures that will enable social distancing, and for us to operate in line with the latest Government guidelines.

"These trials are being conducted across a number of channels, including delivery through Just Eat, Click + Collect and walk-in customers. Colleague and customer safety continue to be the primary focus of the decisions we take as we start to re-open our shops.

"Thank you for your patience while we work hard to play our part in getting the nation back up and running again and serving the communities in which we operate."

PA

Original plans to reopen were postponed once Greggs realised how many customers could potentially show up at the stores.

The bakery was due to reopen some of the branches on 4 May but a statement was issued saying: "Due to significant interest in our 20-shop trial, and the risk that excessive numbers of customers may plan to visit Greggs, we will now initially operate these trials behind closed doors in order to effectively test our new operational safety measures.

"We will continue to review this and will invite walk-in customers into our shops only when we can be confident of doing so in the controlled manner we intended."

Greggs announced that all of their 2,050 stores would close on 24 March, when the UK government imposed a nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The initial plan was for Greggs to reopen 20 stores to trial how well things went and, if the feedback was positive, the hope was to then move to phase two - with 700 shops reopening.

Topics: Greggs, UK News, News, UK

Rebecca Shepherd

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