Greggs backtracks on reopening plans due to crowd concerns

The bakery chain says it is concerned that “excessive numbers” of customers visiting its reopened stores could affect its ability to test social distancing and safety measures.

In an email to staff posted on its website, Greggs’ chief executive Roger Whiteside said the company would now operate the trial “behind closed doors only”, with walk-in customers invited “only when we can be confident of doing so in the controlled manner we intended”.

“It was never our intention to attract high levels of customers to these trial shops,” he said.

The fears come in reaction to a typically enthusiastic reaction on social media from fans of the brand.

Earlier this week Greggs announced that it would reopen 20 of its venues in its Newcastle heartland as part of a controlled trial. These were intended to be the first phase of a longer-term plan to resume trading at its 2,000 plus sites over the next few months, subject to government plans for the ending of lockdown.

However, the company has since decided against such a move.

“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," says a spokesperson.

The 20 trial shops will be staffed by volunteers who will return to work, with social distancing and protective equipment including gloves and visors for staff.

No revised date on which they will start serving the public has been given.

Once staff have practiced the new ways of working, Greggs says it may start deliveries before allowing walk-in customers.

“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,” the spokesperson adds.

Last month Whiteside outlined plans​ ​to have all 2,050 of the bakery chain’s UK branches open again​​ by the beginning of July, restrictions permitting, as part of a two-phase plan.