Gail's aiming to 'double in size' over next three years

Marta Pogroszewska, managing director at Gail’s, told the Lunch! Trade show in London last month that the company is seeing “significant like for like growth” and will launch five further sites before Christmas.

Gail’s opened its first bakery in Hampstead in 2005 and currently trades from 53 locations in London, Brighton, Oxford, Farnham and Wokingham. Pogroszewska said the chain had potential to expand across the country.

“We make choices to grow strategically,” said Pogroszewska. “We could venture in to other areas of the UK, we choose to focus on London because we believe there is so much more to do [there].

"We have an exciting time ahead. We just presented a three year strategy to the board. We have amazing plans to double the size of the business."

She added that Gail’s was targeting growth in neighbourhood areas rather than in the city centre.

“Our busiest shops are in places like Blackheath or Dulwich Village, where people rest at the weekend. Around 60% of our sales come from weekends.”

Pogroszewska said that Gail’s was trying to prepare for Brexit but that it was “a bit of a guessing game”, and anticipated staffing and procurement would be most affected. 

The company has focused on its employee development programme Rise with Gail’s, which has seen staff turnover halve over the past three years. Pogroszewska said in August 5,000 people applied to work at the chain through its website alone. 

She said the company was in a strong position for the future but was careful not to “rest on its laurels”.

Pogroszewska added: “I think we are good for the next 10 years, I’m not worried about our future. Hopefully we’ll be international by then.”