Greggs is opening a small number of branches to test how it will reopen its 2,050 shops
GREGGS is looking to open a small number of branches to test if and how it will reopen its 2,050 UK stores.
The high street bakery chain decided to temporarily close a month ago to protect staff and customers from spreading the deadly coronavirus.
Despite government orders for all non-essential shops to temporarily close, restaurants and cafes are still allowed to operate a takeaway service.
But many chains found that they couldn't confidently carry out business safely whilst also abiding by social distancing rules, such as KFC, McDonald's and Burger King.
Now, some chains are starting to reopen a small number of branches under new measures, such as retraining staff to prepare food while social distancing, to offer takeaway services in trials to keep services running.
KFC and Burger King have already opened a handful of branches respectively, while reports on Friday revealed that McDonald's was looking to open again by mid-May for delivery and drive-thru orders.
Shops allowed to stay open
ONLY a small group of retailers will be allowed to stay open, they include:
- Supermarkets
- Pharmacies
- Takeaways and food deliveries
- Health shops
- Medical services – eg, dentists
- Vets
- Newsagents
- Pet shops
- Hardware stores
- Retail shops in hospitals
- Petrol stations
- Bicycle shops
- Laundrettes and dry cleaners
- Undertakers
- Banks, building societies
- Short-term loan providers, credit unions and cash points
- Storage and distribution centres
- Post Offices
- Car rental services and car parks near vital services such as supermarkets
- Public toilets
- Car garages and repair shops
- Food banks and shelters.
Today, Greggs told The Sun that it too is looking at ways for it to reopen.
A spokesperson said: "We want to play our part in getting the nation back up and running again so we are planning to conduct a limited trial with volunteers to explore how we can reopen our shops with new measures in place that keep our colleagues and customers as safe as we can when we re-open at scale."
It is yet to confirm the finer details of the trials, including how many branches could reopen, which stores will open first and exactly what kind of service it will offer.
It could adopt a social distancing policy in stores for customers to collect food to takeaway or it may team up with delivery services, such as Just Eat or Deliveroo, so you can get your pastries brought to you at home during lockdown.
Either way, we can't wait to get our chops around a steak bake or vegan sausage roll.
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Fans who've been missing their Greggs' fix have been able to pick up frozen versions of their favourite snacks from the baker's range at Iceland, but it's not quite the same.
The chain has also been posting the exact recipes for their most-loved snacks so you can make it at home.
For example, here's how to make their cheese, bean and sausage melts, which also went down a treat with fans.