Greggs

[Traviis]

Apparently Greggs are going to trial opening 20 stores. I only know this from Twitter, where they were being accused of killing NHS staff by this action.

I'm baffled. How are Greggs any worse to the other food outlets that are still open and never closed? Secondly, how else are we going to move on from the current situation without trialling new ways of businesses operating?

Vegan steak bake sounds like an oxymoron

Are they nice the vegan ones ?
I like a regular steak bake but not tried the above.

Providing a service for commuters makes sense.

Our local Martins has been open throughout lockdown. They sell bread and were also selling pasta and large bags of grated cheese when I went in for bread. Not sure how it's different from Greggs.

And yes the vegan steak bake is nice. It's made from Quorn so you'd have to like Quorn.

Yep. This is a trial. Doubtless the people who run Greggs (who aren''t going to be stupid, by a long way) are going to be looking at which outlets to open, looking at how big the kitchens are at each of their outlets, picking ones where the staff can distance easily, working out (like all the supermarkets and convenience stores are doing) how they can ensure the most distance possible between customers or customers and staff etc.
If there are stores where this can't be done, they won't open them. If the trial works, they'll open more, if there are hiccups, then they'll work on those before opening others.

Professional people runs these companies, and there's lot more information and support than there was at the beginning of this period. People can now make informed decisions, rather than just shutting down in the absence of enough information to guarantee safety.

We often had queues right out of the door with at least 15-20 people inside the store at any given time. On busy weekend days we had six staff members working at a time plus the delivery guy would come in at the end of the day.

All highly unlikely given how few people are out and about at the moment. They'd obviously not be able to operate if they were so busy as, yes, impossible to social distance, but that's presumably why they're doing trial openings to see how many customers they get, how they can social distance staff & customers, viability of incuring costs of operating, staffing, supplies, etc on presumably low customer numbers, etc.

If tiny shops, chippies, chinese takeways, garage forecourts, etc can manage to open safely and compliantly, then I'm sure Greggs will find ways too!

If they put markings down on the floor to keep people 2m apart I’d guess only two or three customers would be allowed in at a time and I’m guessing it will be down to staff to police this unless Greggs are thinking spur hiring security. We had some fairly nasty customers at times, I wouldn’t have wanted to tell them they had to queue 2m apart and only come into the store alone.

Tell me how any of that is different to all the small shops, garages, takeaways, etc that have remained open throughout??? All will have to deal with unsavoury customers, drunks, etc etc., just like they do day in day out before Covid!

Not sure why they shut. Yes the staff are close together but it's a small team (3-4 people) so similar to other workplaces that remain open, the road crew are standing around close together drinking out of mugs as I type, they spend around 4-5 hours a day doing this, watching one guy with a digger (hey watching them is marginally more entertaining than daytime tv and far more than work which is what I should be doing now)

I don't tend to use Greggs but I think the more businesses that can get back to some form of normality the better. They provide jobs and contribute to the economy. Obviously they have to operate in as safe a manner as possible when it comes to social distancing but we can't lockdown the entire population with everyone under permanent house arrest.

Exactly. Sooner or later, things will return to normal. It makes sense for shops and businesses that have been allowed to remain open throughout the lockdown actually start to open. Pointless changing the law to allow more different types of shop to open when those that are allowed aren't even opening. Other businesses need to see what works, what doesn't, what different options they could embrace. The more shops and businesses that open with social distancing, the more others will think they can do it too - the more the general public will comply, etc.

Thing is they can’t keep staff furloughed for ever and if people want the economy not to be completely fucked businesses need to be open.

Somewhere like greggs should be able to get customers to social distance by using tape on the floor for example. Only take card and the service is generally very quick anyway.

Good on them I say!

Just read here they plan to reopen all stores by July 1st:

www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/27/greggs-shops-coronavirus-lockdown-burger-king-kfc-stores

Good on Greggs.

Starving now.

Thing is they can’t keep staff furloughed for ever and if people want the economy not to be completely fucked businesses need to be open.

Nor will the govt allow them to keep staff furloughed for ever. I think that furlough for most will stop at the current 30 June limit. The govt will extend it for specific people/industries only, i.e. staff who are shielding, and specific industries they continue to prohibit operating, such as cafes, pubs, hospitality, sports venues, etc. Anyone who can work, and any business that is allowed to open will have to piss or get off the pot, i.e. get staff back to work or be made redundant, businesses re-open or close down.

Not tried Quorn but I think when I am next in Town (no idea when) and if Greggs is open I might try a vegan steak bake anyway .
Ty @Notcoolmum

Good.We need to get back to some sort of normal in a safe way.
Hopefully other shops might follow the lead we need to get this country moving again it's not good for anyone to carry on in this state for much longer.

Wait, there are drive-thru Greggs?!

Seriously though, how long can this limbo-land continue? We need to start thinking about the economy.

I would have thought one of the considerations might be a reduced offering so that the staff can socially distance. Maybe they won’t do hot drinks, or not sell things that need to be cooked/warmed up to order and make moving around behind the counter necessary.

Opening up and selling hot pastry stuff, sandwiches and cakes alone could be the difference between them closing half of their stores permanently or getting through this with the business more or less intact.

I for one could murder a cheese and onion pastie and a London cheesecake

I live in Cooplands county and they are managing just fine. Two people max instore, stickers on the pavement outside indicating where to stand and they've even increased their range to include basic groceries, which you can order over the phone and collect.

I would have thought one of the considerations might be a reduced offering so that the staff can socially distance. Maybe they won’t do hot drinks, or not sell things that need to be cooked/warmed up to order and make moving around behind the counter necessary.

All of which are considered during the trial opening period. They'll be learning as they go as to what customers want, how many staff are needed, etc. It's a whole new learning experience for them. They won't be "business as normal" at first. Perhaps, as you say, they'll start without hot drinks, or start with a very limited range, or start with skeleton staff. Our village Spar shop is a completely different beast to what it was before the lockdown - quite unbelievable just how much it has changed - what it doesn't sell anymore, the new products it never used to sell - all that is evolution as weeks have passed and it's management have learned what the customers want during the lockdown.

Cooplands county ? Is that in the US ?

I like the County things in the US
My GI bride aunt lived in Harris County , Houston

It’s all part of the lockdown lifting in the UK.

McDonalds and other fast food places are also reopening.

Telling you, next review they will start phase one of lifting it. Certain jobs will go back to work. Certain shops will reopen.

WTF is this 'no one needs xyz'...

Honestly, most of us could survive on something like Huel and baby formula for the tinies...

We'd all be thoroughly miserable but 'nice food' isn't actually necessary, it is just 'nice'... anyone wanna sign up for that?

Dont understand how this is different from subway with the sitting in option closed. Why cant places be open but no sitting in? Dont understand why its only Gregg's.

You can buy nice food in a supermarket along with essentials. No one is suggesting we all live on stale bread and water. The difference with Greggs etc is that people will be going there in addition to the supermarket. Maybe re open what we need first and see how it goes before doing anything else.