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Gail's

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gail's
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)[1]
FoundersGail Mejia
Tom Molnar[2]
Number of locations
131
(as of August 2024)[3]
Websitegails.com

Gail's (styled "GAIL's") is a British bakery and coffee shop chain.

History

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The bakery opened it first shop on Hampstead High Street in 2005 and their 100th in East Sheen in 2022.[1][4][better source needed]

In 2021, all Gail's branches were within a 55 mile radius of its central bakery and kitchen in Hendon,[5] and expanded to Altrincham, Chester, Didsbury, Knutsford, Manchester, and Wilmslow.

Initiatives

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Gail's has launched various initiatives to reduce food waste, such as selling a sourdough loaf made partially from leftover bread.[6] It partnered with Neighbourly to distribute surplus food in 2023.[7]

Controversies

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Twice-baked pastries

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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 [their] 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.[8]

Prospective bakery opening

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In August 2024, residents of Walthamstow Village petitioned to "prevent Gail’s from establishing a store on [its] 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."[3]

Political bellwether

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"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.[9]

Awards

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In 2024, Gail's won the "Best Coffee Shop/Café Group" award at the MCA Hospitality Awards.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "ABOUT US".
  2. ^ "PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF GAIL'S".
  3. ^ a b "'There's nowhere else like this': the backlash against plans for a Gail's bakery in Walthamstow".
  4. ^ "Gail's Bakery reaches 100 store milestone in the UK".
  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. ^ "Gail's comes under fire after customers told to pay £1 extra for day-old croissants".
  9. ^ "'Does it have a Gail's?' How a bakery became middle-class England's most powerful political bellwether".
  10. ^ "2024 Winners".
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