AFTER three months of lockdown, Greggs fans can finally get their hands on a steak bake from today.
The high street bakery chain has reopened 800 branches for takeaway and delivery orders.
Greggs has reopened 800 stores today for takeaway and delivery ordersIt’s had to introduce new rules though in branches to keep customers and staff safe while it trades during the coronavirus pandemic.
To encourage customers to follow social distancing and stay two metres apart, the bakery has put up fun signs telling customers that’s equal to around 16 of its famous sausage rolls.
Social distancing rules will make the queues to get into a branch longer than normal, but don’t be put off.
Like many other retailers, Greggs has put up perspex screens at the tills to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.
Customers are being asked to stand “15 sausage rolls apart” to encourange social distancing
Branches will implement a more frequent cleaning regime
Staff have been given PPE to wear while at work
Staff have also been given protective gear including face masks and gloves to wear whilst at work.
Branches have been told to up their cleaning game with more frequent checks and hand sanitiser stations have been set up in stores.
Customers are being encouraged to pay by card if they can although they won’t be turned away if they only have cash.
All seating areas and toilets will remain closed.
Like McDonald’s, Greggs will only be offering a limited menu but it will include the classics such as the steak bakes, sausage rolls, vegan sausage rolls and doughnuts.
Branches will be operating shorter opening hours, from 9am until 3pm, although this may vary depending on the store so it’s worth looking for your local opening hours using the store locator tool.
Out of the 800 stores, 19 of them will be offering delivery through JustEat – you can find out if your local is doing the service by logging into the app and if it appears as an option then it is.
Perspex screens have been put up at the tills
But it’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll have to fork out a delivery fee of around £3.50, although this can vary depending on how far away you live from the branch.
If delivery proves popular, it hopes to roll out the service to more branches at a later date.
There are 2,050 Greggs branches in the UK and the bakery chain hopes to open more in the first few weeks of July if the initial opening is successful.
You can see the full list of what Greggs stores are open today here.
It comes a month after it shelved plans to reopen 20 stores due to overcrowding fears – but instead tested making food for charities.
The bakery chain warns that it doesn’t expect sales to return to pre-lockdown levels immediately, as customers get used to the new way of shopping.
Because of this, a proportion of Greggs’ staff will remain on furlough, either fully or part-time, until things return to normal.
It has also said that it has temporarily paused its new shop opening programme but still hopes to open 50 new branches this year, but close 60.
Greggs boss Roger Whiteside said: “Looking forward, although great uncertainty remains, we are excited to be resuming our service for many customers this week.
“We are confident of our ability to adapt to market conditions in the short term while continuing to invest in the long-term growth of our business.
“I want to thank all of our 25,000 colleagues for their support in getting us to this point.”
