Fast growing upmarket bakery chain Gail’s is aiming to open its first drive-thru branches in London and the south east as it looks to cash in on the popularity of its cinammon buns.
The coffee shop and artisan baker is hoping to secure 10 locations within the next 12 months.
It has hired property adviser Forty Group to find sites of between 2,000 sq ft and 4,000 sq ft with space for at least 20 cars, according to the Propel hospitality news website.
Drive-thrus have become increasingly popular in Britain in recent years but are normally associated with more mass market brands such as McDonald’s, KFC and Krispy Kreme. But Gail’s co-founder and chief executive Tom Molnar said in an interview that he was prepared to look at new formats to help the rollout of the brand.
He said: “We are first and foremost a bakery, so it’s about the kitchen, and then if we have space for seating, we will add it in. We are always experimenting with new formats as it allows us to take advantage of different real estate opportunities that present themselves.”
The company, backed by private equity firm Bain Capital, opened its first high street bakery in Hampstead in 2005, but has grown rapidly, mainly in London and the Home Counties. It opened its 100th branch in East Sheen in October and now has around 110 in total.
The Battersea outlet was regularly used by the Princess of Wales when she was doing the school run at her children’s former school Thomas’s.
