Will new Greggs in Inverness spark a ‘battle of the Highland bakeries’?
It’s safe to say that the imminent arrival of a Greggs bakery shop in the very heart of Inverness has sparked strong feelings - both for and against the plans.
After The Inverness Courier broke the news yesterday that the famous UK chain is looking to move into the city’s High Street, our social channels have been swamped with comments.
And for every Greggs aficionado who cannot wait to tuck into one of their famous steak bakes, there was another swearing blind that the Highlands’ existing local offerings are better - be it Harry Gow, Ashers of the Three Little Bakers and more besides.
Of course, it’s possible that the arrival of Greggs may have little impact on the bottom line of those wildly popular bakeries - with their tasty treats, freshly-made goods and sugary dream rings also boasting their fair share of fans in the wider world.
Are you “Team Greggs” or will you be sticking with the Highlands’ local bakeries?
Here’s just some of the views shared by our readers.
Those delighted by the news included Frances Gardner, who said: “Love Greggs; their hot food [is] nice.”
Beverley Mackintosh and John David Gallon were particularly excited, saying “Best news EVER!!!!” and “Yippee, yes 🤩” respectively.
Others elaborated further, with Fin Sutherland among those please to be able to enjoy Greggs products they’d developed a taste for the bakery’s products during their childhood.
Louise Brannigan said: “No more waiting until I go to Glasgow for a Gregg’s. As someone who grew up with Gregg’s I have to wait until I go back to my hometown for one so I hope they open one here in Inverness.
Fin Sutherland added: “The fact that it has taken this long for Inverness to get its first Greggs in the City Centre whilst the likes of Perth, Dunfermline and Stirling have had over three in their city centres for over a decade is insane! Three more stores should be opened in Inverness!”
Greggs opened its 2500th outlet just last year, and some readers were not so eager to see the chain expand even further by moving into the Highlands.
Sheila Mitchell believes our home-grown bakeries are “far, far superior”, but was also pleased to see a vacant High Street site filled.
She said: “While I occasionally partake with a Greggs; Harry Gows, Three Little Bakers and Ashers have nothing to fear by them coming to town.
“All three are far, far superior in comparison. Plus far better a shop filled than yet another closed one in the High Street surely?”
Others were quick to voice their preference for our local bakeries. Uri Narey said: “Why anyone would choose to go to Greggs when we've got far superior local bakeries is beyond me.
“Slop packed in bog standard bland pastry, served at room temperature after it's been sitting in the hot cupboard for hours. Awful food.”
Peter Munro did not mince words: “F*** Greggs and SUPPORT our fantastic local bakeries.”
Support for local bakeries was a recurring theme elsewhere too, with Matt Davies saying: “I hope local people continue to shop at Harry Gows & Asher’s.”
Alison MacRae and Donny Keith said “I'm sticking with Harry Gows” and “Local bakers in Inverness are much better” respectively.
And Iain Dunbar added: “I'll just stick with Deas of Dingwall or Asher's, made fresh daily not 100s of miles away.”
What do you think? Where do you fall? Do you fear a ‘battle of the bakeries’, or feel they’ll all be able to coexist? Email newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk or comment on our Facebook page.