Customers get crusty as Greggs tries pasty invasion

PASSIONS over pasties are flaring in Cornwall after Greggs said it would open a bakery in the home of the delicacy within weeks.

The chain’s foray into Cornwall, with a shop in Truro, is not the first time it has tried to crack the county.

In 2019 it opened its first store in Saltash, close to the Devon border, but was forced to close after just nine months amid a lack of business.

Plans for the opening on Dec 6 have left residents hot under the collar. One described it as “the devil’s spawn”, with another saying that any new stores that try to open in Cornwall “won’t last”.

The new shop is a short distance from pasty makers Rowe’s and from Warrens, which claims to be the oldest Cornish pasty maker in the world, dating from 1860.

A petition has been launched calling for the opening to be blocked.

The Cornish pasty accounts for £300million worth of trade a year, 20 per cent of Cornwall’s food and drink industry. One Facebook user wrote: “Why. The last one closed quickly. Give me a proper Cornish bakery anytime.”

Another said: “This is the first major battle in full-on war. It is an invasion.”

Only those made in Cornwall using a traditional recipe can use the term Cornish pasty after it was given protected status by the European Commission.

Greggs is looking to expand its operations by 100 new shops a year.

A business analyst said: “Greggs has punched above its weight because of its low pricing, wide-appeal marketing, and shops outside city centres.”