Bakery chain that’s a Greggs rival to open 40 new shops across UK in 2026 | UK | News
A major bakery chain has announced plans to open 40 new branches in the UK. High streets in the UK have experienced a significant number of closures in recent years, affecting a range of businesses from supermarkets to fashion retailers, banks and fast food chains.
Now, the large chain, known for its delicious baked goods, has given good news to its customers by expanding its network with new stores expected to open before February 2026. Gail’s has confirmed it will be opening new stores.
The chain now has 185 stores across the UK and is experiencing rapid expansion. Gail opened 36 new locations in the year to February 2025, and the company plans to maintain this pace.
In the same period, it reported revenue of £278 million, up 20% on the previous period. Great Britain News.
However, the company reported a pre-tax loss of £7.8 million in its latest financial results. Losses, which increased from £7.4 million in the previous year, were due to investment in store expansions and increased operating costs.
The number of employees increased by approximately 500 people, reaching over 4,000.
Revenue growth despite losses shows that customers’ demand for the goods the company sells is high.
In addition to its own branches, the bakery also has a separate division that supplies retailers such as Waitrose and Ocado. Although management is aware that this segment faces “very competitive” market conditions, it attracts customers by offering “quality at reasonable prices”.
They also noted that Gail’s retail division represented the “faster-growing and more profitable portion” of its operations and acknowledged the “very competitive” nature of both the retail and wholesale markets and that continued growth required providing “innovative premium foods in attractive neighborhood bakeries.”
The expansion is in line with broader retail trends that reveal entertainment-focused businesses are dominating growth categories and customers are prioritizing experiences over traditional brick-and-mortar retail.
A representative for Gail told trade publication Propel: “We are pleased to have achieved strong year-on-year growth.
“This performance is fueled by the growing demand for high-quality, nutrient-dense food and the support of the communities we serve. We will continue to build on this momentum by growing with purpose and remaining committed to improving access to good food.”
