Greggs preparing to start serving customers safely

GREGGS is aiming to open around 800 of its stores in the middle of next month.

The bakery chain is expected to start serving customers up and down the country in June.

“We have planned and delivered robust shop trials using our new operational safety measures and they have progressed well allowing us to now move to open an increased number of our shops from midJune,” a spokesperson for the company said.

The firm did not put a figure on how many stores it hopes to open, however it is understood to be trying to serve customers out of about 800 of its sites.

Greggs runs approximately 2,050 outlets across the country.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said lockdown rules will be eased to allow non-essential stores, including clothes shops, to reopen from the middle of next month, as long as they adhere to social distancing rules.

Eldon Square and Metrocentre owner intu has outlined how it will support the gradual reopening of non-essential retail stores in line with guidelines.

The plan includes placing limits on the number of people and cars allowed into the centres at a time, with some parking bays closed, and there will be a raft of other measures such as one-way systems, floor stickers and staff training to ensure visitors stay socially distanced.

Enhanced hygiene regimes that were introduced at the start of the outbreak will continue, with more deep cleaning of key areas and touchpoints like escalators, toilets and keypads.

These measures have remained in place while Eldon Square and Metrocentre provide access to essential services such as pharmacies, supermarkets and banks during the lockdown. Hand sanitation stands will also remain at entrances and other locations throughout the centre for visitors to use.

And staff will be given personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep them safe.

Matthew Roberts, chief executive of intu, said: “intu is the biggest landlord for most of our brand customers so we have been working to help them plan the reopening of their stores as soon and as safely as they can.

“Experts from across intu have formed a specialist taskforce who have considered everything we need to run intu Eldon Square and intu Metrocentre and our others centres as safely as possible, with a series of central, common principles for the portfolio and individual plans for each centre.

“This includes working with our brand customers and providing them with all the support they need to reopen safely, as well as new social distancing and hygiene procedures to keep everyone who visits or works in our centres safe.

“We have introduced enhanced cleaning regimes and hand sanitation stands throughout every centre, measures to limit the number of visitors and ensure they stay socially distanced once inside, and given our staff the protective equipment they need to stay safe.

“We know we cannot do this alone and everyone who visits our centres whether for work or to shop will play

their part in keeping themselves and each other safe by following the official guidelines, and the instructions and safety information provided by our teams.

“Our teams have been working incredibly hard to keep our centres clean and safe during the lockdown and we are hugely grateful to them, and we would also like to thank our brand customers and visitors for all their cooperation and patience.”

■■BUS services operated by Go North East will start to return to normal next month when lockdown restrictions are eased.

The operator revealed that it will begin to start bringing back its full service from Monday, June 1, in line with the guidance from the Government.

Some services will return to timetables similar to pre-lockdown times on weekdays, although evening frequencies will be reduced as a result of the closure of leisure and entertainment venues.

Services on weekends will also run to different timetables.

Go North East is still advising passengers to take precautions in line with Covid-19 guidance.

This includes only travelling if necessary, planning your journey to make it as direct as possible and maintaining social distancing.