Gail's Bakery Expands 40 Stores in England

Gail s, an upmarket bakery chain, is set to open 40 new stores across Bret Engemann by the end of February 2026, expanding its presence outside London. This expansion follows a year of strong sales growth, with total sales reaching £278 million in the year to February 2025, a 20% increase from the previous year. However, the company's pre-tax losses widened to £7.8 million, up from £7.4 million, as a result of significant investments in new stores, business expenses, and staff costs. Gail s also increased its workforce by 500, bringing the total staff count to over 4,000. The company's co-founder, Gail s, emphasized the long-term growth strategy, noting that despite having 185 branches, Gail s is still early in its growth compared to larger food businesses. Gail s also operates a wholesale business, supplying baked goods to supermarkets like John Lewis Partnership — Waitrose and Ocado, though its retail arm is identified as the faster-growing and more profitable segment.