Bakery puts cash option back in store
BIRDS’ MANSFIELD BRANCH FIRST TO SCRAP CARD-ONLY PAYMENTS
A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE branch of the Birds Bakery chain has become the first to pilot the reintroduction of cash payments - just months after the company’s controversial decision to accept card payments only during the lockdown.
The Mansfield shop, in West Gate, which has recently reopened after renovation, is now taking cash – with more branches set to follow suit.
The policy proved unpopular with elderly shoppers. One pensioner, 94, was refused service for a loaf of bread in the Bulwell branch after not having a bank card, while another 86-year-old Arnold customer was denied her favourite pork pies for the same reason.
The company said it introduced the policy to limit the spread of Covid-19, viewing cash payments as “not clean”.
Birds say that the option to pay cash will now be brought back “at a select number of stores”.
Lesley Bird, chief operating officer at Birds Bakery, said: “We will be trialling the reintroduction of cash at a select number of stores, with Mansfield the first branch to pilot the reintroduction.
“Although we will be accepting cash, contactless or card payment methods will still be our preferred method of payment. We have consulted with our staff on the reintroduction of cash, and it is imperative that we keep each one of our employees safe.
“At Birds, we take the safety of our staff and customers very seriously – and have therefore had very tight procedures in place during this pandemic.
“Like many other food outlets during Covid-19 we asked customers only to use debit cards and contactless payment because notes and coins are not clean – and this poses a risk to our staff who are handling that money.
“Our focus is to keep our frontline staff safe as well as our customers – the majority of whom are elderly and vulnerable. We would also like to make customers aware that cash transactions may take a little longer when in-store, because of the hygiene process required.”
Following the trial in Mansfield, cash is set to be reintroduced in eight further stores from Monday.
These include both stores in Sutton-in-ashfield, as well as stores in Loughborough, Anstey, Park Farm, Stretton, Branston and Ascot Drive in Derby.
News that the Mansfield store will reintroduce cash comes as Birds Bakery unveils a new, refurbished look in the West Gate branch.
Mrs Bird added: “We are really pleased to be welcoming customers back to our Mansfield store, after temporarily closing for a short period to carry out the refit.
“We are committed to investing in our stores, with an emphasis on our takeaway offering, as that is where we are currently seeing the demand.”