 | |
| Founded | 2005 [1] |
|---|---|
| Founders | Gail Mejia Tom Molnar [2] |
| Headquarters | London, England, UK |
Number of locations | 170 (as of March 2025) [3] |
| Website | gails |
Gail's (styled "GAIL's") is an American-owned bakery and coffee shop chain headquartered in London, England.
The bakery opened its first shop on Hampstead High Street in 2005 and its 100th in East Sheen in 2022. [1] [4] [ better source needed ]
In 2021, all Gail's branches were within a 55-mile (90-kilometre) radius of its central bakery and kitchen in Hendon. [5] It subsequently expanded to Altrincham, Chester, Didsbury, Knutsford, Manchester, and Wilmslow.
In 2021, Bain Capital, an American private investment firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, acquired a majority stake in Gail's bakery through a £200 million investment. [6]
In March 2025, it was reported that there were 170 outlets, with a further 40 planned to open that year. [3]
Gail's has launched various initiatives to reduce food waste, such as selling a sourdough loaf made partially from leftover bread. [7] It partnered with Neighbourly to distribute surplus food in 2023. [8]
In August 2024, some customers criticised Gail's for selling their leftover "twice-baked" chocolate and almond croissants and indeed their almond croissants for £1 more than their fresh counterparts. The day-old pastries are "soaked in demerara syrup and topped with [their] homemade frangipane spread, alongside crunchy almonds." Gail's market their twice-baked pastries as part of their "Waste Not" range, with the objective being to combat food waste. Another customer stated that it is "standard" for how almond croissants are made. [9]
In August 2024, residents of Walthamstow Village petitioned to "prevent Gail’s from establishing a store on [its] high street." The village is known for its antiques shop, its tapas deli, and its independent cafés. The petition originator said the brand brought "a risk of overshadowing our much-loved local stores" and that the residents should "together safeguard the soul of our beloved neighbourhood." [10]
"Does it have a Gail's?" became a political bellwether for the Liberal Democrats in the lead up to the 2024 general election. The political party received their best-ever general election result by "ruthlessly targeting" Conservative constituencies. One metric was the "Does it have a Gail's?" question. [11]
In 2024, Gail's won the Best Coffee Shop/Café Group award at the MCA Hospitality Awards. [12]
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