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Gail's

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British bakery and cafe chain
Gail's Ltd
Founded2005; 20 years ago (2005)
FoundersGail Mejia
Tom Molnar
HeadquartersLondon, England, UK
Number of locations131
(as of August 2024)
Websitegails.com

Gail's (styled "GAIL's") is a British bakery and coffee shop chain headquartered in London, England.

History

The bakery opened it first shop on Hampstead High Street in 2005 and their 100th in East Sheen in 2022.

In 2021, all Gail's branches were within a 55 mile radius of its central bakery and kitchen in Hendon. It subsequently expanded to Altrincham, Chester, Didsbury, Knutsford, Manchester, and Wilmslow.

Initiatives

Gail's has launched various initiatives to reduce food waste, such as selling a sourdough loaf made partially from leftover bread. It partnered with Neighbourly to distribute surplus food in 2023.

Controversies

Twice-baked pastries

In August 2024, some customers criticised Gail's for selling their leftover "twice-baked" chocolate and almond croissants and indeed their almond croissants for £1 more than their fresh counterparts. The day-old pastries are "soaked in demerara syrup and topped with homemade frangipane spread, alongside crunchy almonds." Gail's market their twice-baked pastries as part of their "Waste Not" range, with the objective being to combat food waste. Another customer stated that it is "standard" for how almond croissants are made.

Prospective bakery opening

In August 2024, residents of Walthamstow Village petitioned to "prevent Gail’s from establishing a store on high street." The village is known for its antiques shop, its tapas deli, and its independent cafés. The petition originator said the brand brought "a risk of overshadowing our much-loved local stores" and that the residents should "together safeguard the soul of our beloved neighbourhood."

In politics

"Does it have a Gail's?" became a political bellwether for the Liberal Democrats in the lead up to the 2024 general election. The political party received their best-ever general election result by "ruthlessly targeting" Conservative constituencies. One metric was the "Does it have a Gail's?" question.

Awards

In 2024, Gail's won the Best Coffee Shop/Café Group award at the MCA Hospitality Awards.

References

  1. ^ "ABOUT US". Gail's Bread. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  2. "PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF GAIL'S". Gail's Bread. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
  3. ^ Addley, Esther (16 Aug 2024). "'There's nowhere else like this': the backlash against plans for a Gail's bakery in Walthamstow". The Guardian.
  4. "Gail's Bakery reaches 100 store milestone in the UK". World Coffee Portal. 28 October 2022.
  5. "THE BIG INTERVIEW: Brett Parker from Gail's Bakery on kitchen design to captivate customers". Foodservice Equipment Journal. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  6. Holland, Mina (21 November 2018). "Waste bread: Gail's is making the most of yesterday's bake". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  7. Bamford, Vince (31 October 2023). "Gail's partners with Neighbourly to distribute surplus food". British Baker. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  8. Guinness, Emma (16 August 2024). "Gail's comes under fire after customers told to pay £1 extra for day-old croissants". The Independent.
  9. Stewart, Heather (22 August 2024). "'Does it have a Gail's?' How a bakery became middle-class England's most powerful political bellwether". The Guardian.
  10. "MCA Hospitality Awards 2025 - 2024 Winners". MCA Hospitality Awards. William Reed Ltd. Retrieved 2024-12-31.

External links

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