Gail's Explained

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

Israeli baker Gail Mejia set up The Bread Factory, wholesale bakers, in the 1990s. Businessman Ran Avidan and Tom Molnar opened the first Gail's Bakery in Hampstead High Street in 2005.^{[1] [2] [3]} Tom Molnar is the CEO of Gail's and its parent company, Bread Holdings.^[4]

After starting in London, Gail's expanded to elsewhere in the south-east of England, and further since 2022. As of April 2024 there were 131 outlets,^{[5] [6]} and many more planned.^[7]

Gail's has launched various initiatives to reduce food waste, such as selling a sourdough loaf made partially from leftover bread.^[8] It partnered with Neighbourly to distrubute surplus food in 2023.^[9] In 2024, some customers criticised Gail's for selling upcycled day-old croissants under its Waste Not range for 95p more than its fresh croissants.^{[10] [11]}

Gail's received industry journal Guild of Fine Food's Great Taste Awards and in 2024 was named as one of the region's Best coffee shop/cafés at the MCA Hospitality Awards.^[12]

Notes and References

1. News: Gail's bakery is coming to Golders Green. 25 August 2023. . The Jewish Chronicle.
2. Web site: Gail's bakeries: Israel comes to London. Xanthe. Clay. May 20, 2011. The Telegraph.
3. Web site: About Us . Gailsbread . 16 March 2022.
4. News: Smail . Jerome . Gail's force: CEO Tom Molnar on the bakery's new milestone . 16 March 2022 . Bakery Info . 10 November 2021.
5. News: Bourne . Dianne . Queues out the door as first Gail's Bakery opens in the north . Manchester Evening News . 16 February 2023 .
6. News: Riley . Dan . Gail’s Bakery targeting 35 new stores in 2024, reveals MD Marta Pogroszewska . 10 June 2024 . British Baker . 22 April 2024.
7. News: Addley . Esther . 'There’s nowhere else like this': the backlash over plans for a Gail's bakery in Walthamstow village . The Guardian . 16 August 2024 .
8. Web site: Holland . Mina . Waste bread: Gail’s is making the most of yesterday’s bake . The Guardian . 16 August 2024 . 21 November 2018.
9. Web site: Bamford . Vince . Gail’s partners with Neighbourly to distribute surplus food . British Baker . 16 August 2024 . en . 31 October 2023.
10. Web site: Gail’s comes under fire after customers told to pay £1 extra for day-old croissants . The Independent . 16 August 2024 . en . 16 August 2024.
11. Web site: Haynes . Tom . Gail’s customers told to pay £1 extra for day-old croissants . The Telegraph . 16 August 2024 . 16 August 2024.
12. Web site: 2024 Winners. MCA Hospitality Awards (formerly Retailers' Retailer Awards). 2024-06-26.