Greggs, the beloved British bakery chain, is a household name. Its sausage rolls, steak bakes, and cheap coffee fuel the nation’s workforce. But behind the flaky pastry and savoury fillings lies a history riddled with controversy. From criminal scandals to marketing blunders, Greggs has faced storms that would sink lesser businesses. This article pulls no punches, exposing the raw and gritty side of Greggs’ story.
The Darkest Chapter: The Colin Gregg Scandal
The most abhorrent scandal tied to Greggs isn’t about food or business-it’s about crime. Colin Gregg, son of the founder, was convicted in 2017 of nine counts of indecent assault against four boys. These offences stretched over three decades, from the 1960s to the 1990s. The court heard how he abused his positions of trust as a teacher and headteacher, preying on vulnerable children. Initially sentenced to 13.5 years, his term was later cut to 8.5 years on appeal. The judge didn’t mince words, calling him a “sophisticated, predatory paedophile.”
This scandal cast a long shadow over the Greggs name. Though Colin wasn’t directly involved in the business at the time of his conviction, the association was unavoidable. The company stayed silent, distancing itself from his actions, but the damage was done. For a brand built on family values, this was a gut punch.
Marketing Missteps: Courting Controversy
Greggs isn’t shy about pushing boundaries in its marketing, often walking a fine line between bold and reckless. In 2017, they sparked outrage with a promotional image for their advent calendar. Instead of baby Jesus in the nativity scene, there was a sausage roll. Religious groups, including the Evangelical Alliance and the Freedom Association, slammed it as “sick” and disrespectful. The backlash was swift, with calls for boycotts. Greggs apologised, saying, “We’re really sorry to have caused any offence, this was never our intention.” But they didn’t pull the calendar. It was a calculated risk, and it paid off in publicity, if not in goodwill.
Then came the vegan sausage roll in 2019. Marketed with the tagline “the wait is over,” it was meant to be a triumph. Instead, it ignited a media firestorm. Piers Morgan led the charge, tweeting, “Nobody was waiting for a vegan bloody sausage, you PC-ravaged clowns.” His rant went viral, and suddenly, Greggs was at the centre of a culture war. But they played it smart. Their social media team fired back with a witty, “Oh hello Piers, we’ve been expecting you.” The product sold out, and the controversy turned into a win. Still, supply shortages later that year left customers fuming, proving that even success comes with its own set of problems.
Business Battles: Fighting for Survival
Greggs knows how to fight when its back is against the wall. In 2012, the UK government proposed a 20% VAT on hot takeaway snacks, dubbed the “pasty tax.” For Greggs, this was a direct threat to their business model. They warned it could “materially affect” sales and profits, and they didn’t sit idly by. Greggs lobbied hard, rallying public support with petitions that garnered over half a million signatures. The pressure worked. The government backed down, exempting pasties if they were cooled after baking. It was a victory, but it exposed how vulnerable Greggs is to policy shifts.
Workplace Woes: Cracks in the Façade
Behind the scenes, there are whispers of trouble. Reports from the Enfield Distribution Centre suggest a workplace rife with favouritism, HR corruption, and toxic leadership. These claims, highlighted in Peter Rundev’s book Greggs: The Rise, Scandal, and Resilience of Britain’s Bakery Giant, paint a grim picture. While not widely substantiated, they raise questions about the company’s internal culture. Employee reviews on platforms like Indeed and Glassdoor echo similar sentiments, citing stress, burnout, and inconsistent management. These are the kind of issues that don’t make headlines but fester quietly, eroding morale.
Food Safety and Legal Troubles: Par for the Course
No food business is immune to operational hiccups, and Greggs is no exception. In 2025, they recalled their 2-pack Steak Bake due to undeclared sulphites, a potential health risk for sensitive individuals. There have also been isolated reports of food poisoning, like a June 2025 incident involving a chicken baguette that left two people ill. These are minor in the grand scheme, but they chip away at the brand’s reliability.
Legally, Greggs has tangled with bigger beasts. In 2023, they settled a £150 million COVID-19 business interruption claim with Zurich Insurance. They also fought-and won-an appeal against a ban on an all-night outlet in Leicester Square, which had been blocked over concerns about antisocial behaviour. These battles are the price of being a corporate giant, but they show that Greggs isn’t afraid to dig in when it matters.
The Bottom Line
Greggs’ journey is a testament to resilience. From the depths of the Colin Gregg scandal to the heights of marketing triumphs, the company has weathered storms that would sink lesser businesses. But these controversies have left scars, shaping public perception and forcing Greggs to adapt constantly. As they move forward, the question lingers: can Greggs rise above its past, or will these issues continue to haunt them?
Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project
Sources
- Son of Greggs founder jailed for more than 13 years for child sex abuse
- Greggs bakery heir Colin Gregg has abuse sentence cut
- ‘Predatory’ paedophile son of Greggs founder jailed for indecent assaults
- Rightwing group calls for Greggs boycott over sausage roll nativity
- Piers Morgan says criticism over Greggs vegan sausage roll was mostly because he was ‘bored out of my brains’
- Pasty tax sparks threat of bakers’ march
- Greggs recalls Greggs 2 pack Steak Bake because of undeclared sulphites
- https://iwaspoisoned.com/tag/greggs
- Greggs Settles £150M COVID Payout Claim With Insurer Zurich
- Greggs appeals against ban on all-night outlet in central London
- Peter Rundev, Greggs: The Rise, Scandal, and Resilience of Britain’s Bakery Giant (2024)