Gail’s opens new Blackfriars bakery
Opening on One Blackfriars Road, the new bakery will have both indoor and outdoor seating available, with 10 staff employed to oversee the operation.
Having previously opened in a site in Windsor back in May, it marks the second new location launched by the Luke Johnson-backed bakery business since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“We feel so lucky to still be opening bakeries at a time like this," says Gail's CEO Tom Molnar.
"Blackfriars is such a vibrant community with a strong eye for modern design and living.
"Our bakers and baristas can’t wait to meet our neighbours.”
Gail's opened 10 new bakeries during 2019, and had been on track to do the same this year before the virus hit.
Speaking to BigHospitality back in June, Johnson, who is chairman of private equity firm Risk Capital Partners and also currently backs operators including All Star Lanes and Lussmanns Sustainable Fish & Grill, said that while there was no chance of Gail's managing to open 10 new sites this year, he didn't rule out the potential for the business expanding on that scale in 2021.
"Expansion will depend a lot on the contributions landlords are willing to make; as well as our appetite for risk, combined with how we are continuing to trade in our current portfolio," he said.
"Businesses like Gail’s can compensate for some losses through a takeaway offer.
"In fact, we’ve seen some sites continue to post like-for-like growth during the lockdown because of this.
"And though we’re beginning to see this ease as more of our rivals reopen, we remain confident that with an adjusted but nonetheless resilient model, the brand will be close to full strength in terms of trading within three to six months.
"Then, I would hope, we’ll be on the expansion trail again."
