The Greggs revolt! Locals fear ruin if high street chain opens in town

A historic Georgian town known for its vibrant market is at war over plans to open a Greggs on the high street.

Furious business owners and workers in Swaffham, Norfolk, are concerned that Greggs moving in will ruin the traditional feel of the market town and spell the end of local family bakery Well Bread Bakers which has been a firm favourite for 40 years.

Some, however, say it's an opportunity for the town to grow and attract more visitors while immediately seeing more jobs and investment in Swaffham.

Keeley Wrycraft, who has worked at Well Bread Bakers for more than seven years, is worried she could lose her job if a Greggs opens up opposite.

'A lot of us have been here a long time, I've been here seven years and we're such a small business we're like a family,' she said.

'We have had a lot of support from the community saying that they're all willing to come because the bread, cakes, everything is all made fresh on the premises.

'We have regular customers and see them every day but even when you go outside of work, they recognise you because we're such a small town.

'I don't think Greggs belongs here. They have the same stuff as us and I feel they could put us at risk.'

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The 25-year-old added: 'My boss says if they take some of our money away, there could be redundancies and a lot of people might struggle to get a new job.

'It's so nice to see the community come together. It means they support us. But not just with the business with ourselves too.'

The pastry giant Greggs is seeking permission from Breckland Council to move into a vacant shop space on Swaffham's Market Place. 

The former QD Furniture Store has been empty since it closed down in December.

A petition was previously set up by local resident Karl Chappell for the Greggs plan to be shut down in order keep the 'heart' of the town and it has so far been signed by more than 1,000 people.

But butcher Karl Covell, 48, who has worked in the area for 14 years, sees nothing wrong with competition.

He said: 'We are not worried because if you sell quality stuff like you'll be fine and people will continue to shop here.

'Initially people will go into Greggs to have a nose because it's new but they'll realise what it is.

'I'm sure they'll have special offers but people come in here for sausage rolls, pork pies and they're all hand made and quality.'

Camille Pegg, 44, who works in a charity shop near the proposed site for the new Greggs, does not see a need for the bakery-chain in the area.

'I think a Greggs is probably going to upset some of the cafes who sell homemade goods and the bakers because it will drive business away,' she said.

'It is the last thing this town needs because there are plenty of independent food places around here.

'There are no clothes or shoe shops here so that should take priority instead of a Greggs.

'But I guess the rent is expensive so it will have to be picked up by a big company.'

However Mark Gordan, 55, who has lived in Norfolk for 15 years, thinks Greggs 'is going to be good for the town'.

He said: 'On Facebook, I saw the petition for the bakery with 1000 signatures. Well, 1000 signatures won't do anything.

'There's no way 1000 different people, go in that bakery. Maximum 150 in a month, never mind a week.

'Greggs is going to be good for the town. I mean, think about it. It's going to bring in 20-30, jobs. It's going to bring in tax revenue, which is a problem for this town anyway.

'So when stuff needs fixing, they've never got the money to do it. Who wants to see a shop just sitting there empty?'

He added: 'You know, everyone's complaining. Yeah, okay, the bakers has been here 40 years, people will still shop there.

'They won't suddenly think, oh, go to Greggs because it's 20p cheaper. They're still gonna shop where they normally shop.

'So you know, there's 12,000 people, including kids in this town, so I don't see what the big deal is. There's enough love to go around kind of thing.

'Really, I don't see the problem. It brings in revenue, brings in jobs, people who can't go by car can come walking.'

Graham Jeffs, 70, has lived local to Swaffham for six years and is not impressed at the idea of a Greggs opening in the area.

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'I don't really approve of the multinational companies coming in,' he said. 'We've got two good butchers in the town.

'We've got an excellent bakers that don't really feel that we need a Greggs.

'The other day I was talking to a butcher and they said, 'we can't sell sausage rolls because everyone wants to buy Greg sausage rolls'.

'And I just think that's an income stream that is now not within their abilities.'

While barber Gyunay Sami, 34, who has seen multiple barber shops set up business near him over the past eight years, is delighted to see Greggs potentially move into the town.

'I think it's great for the town. I can't think anything negative,' he said. 'The reason is it will bring another workplace plus everyday the town is growing.

'Nothing personal to the Well Bread Bakery. I know them, they're brilliant people. I'm sure they can do good business like now and I don't think they will be affected by a Greggs.

'Everybody will support the local business as well, I don't see any problem for the town.'

He added: 'I have got no idea why some people are against it. There are some old school people who think differently but you know the town is growing.

'There should be enough room for every business to stay. If you look now there are nine charity shops but all are making good business.

'So rather than that massive shop staying empty, they can charge council tax, business rate and stuff like that. It will be good for everyone.'

It comes after Emma and Andy Godfrey, owners of Well Bread Bakers, said their small business could be forced to make redundancies if people chose to go to Greggs.

Emma, 35, said: 'If Greggs decide in a year's time that they don't want to stay open in Swaffham, losing small businesses for the sake of one isn't good for the town.

'We are making enough money to pay for our outgoings and just enough to keep going.

'But if a big enough portion of our takings are lost, we're going to have to look at different way to cut our costs. Greggs isn't a bakery per se as it is also a large chain coffee shop.

'We have lots of independent coffee shops already. For visiting trade, people see a name they know and go in there rather than explore a little hidden gem.

'Locals like to support people they know and they'd rather buy in places where they know where the money is going.

'We have 14 team members here and every single one lives within five miles of Swaffham. It's a shame this could be lost.'

Mr Godfrey, 61, took over Well Bread Bakers in 2002 after working there most of his life.

Mother-of-two Emma added: 'Wage and energy costs are at an all time high and small businesses like us are having to fight to survive.

'We sell filled rolls and hot food - with Greggs coming in that is going to affect our take-ins. We'd have to make redundancies as we can't keep putting our prices up.

'I'm 35 and I have two children at school. This is mine and my husband's only source of income.

'It pays our mortgage and everything we do with our children. We can't just shut the doors and jump into another job. My husband's skill is in baking.

'I don't think the town council for Swaffham is bothered and neither are Breckland.

'They don't want an empty shop and we understand that as business people. But one shop isn't worth losing three more.

'We're now in an economy where the two adults in a household need to work. People don't have time to go and look round the shops on a Friday afternoon.

'Without support, small businesses aren't going to be around anymore.

'We are concerned for the future of our own business but also for other local independent businesses in the town.'

Marian Gibson, 73, has lived on the outskirts of Swaffham for 40 years and said there was no need for Greggs when the town already had its own independent businesses.

She said: 'I don't think we need it. We've got a good bakers and we don't need the competition.

'Swaffham should stay as a market town - we've already got loads of supermarkets and we need to keep these small family shops running. I think the council should be doing more.'

Swaffham Town Council have no objections to the proposal.