Gail’s, dubbed a ‘Greggs for posh people’, is the pricey but popular bakery chain where one is welcomed by the smell of sourdough and an air of superiority.
Adored by the middle-class and made de rigueur by Molly-Mae, it’s set itself apart from the likes of Pret and Caffe Nero by refusing to provide diary-alternatives for free.
But in perhaps shocking news, Gail’s is set to make a big change to its pricing after a campaign by PETA.
The bakery chain will scrap its soya milk surcharge, which saw customers pay an extra 40p if they wanted a hot drink with the cows milk alternative.
It comes after the animal rights charity claimed the fee ‘unfairly discriminated’ against customers, and was backed by 12,000 supporters earlier this month.
Gail’s will now offer soya milk for free from May 21, but it will still charge between 40p to 60p if you want oat milk in your beverage.
About a third of Brits now drink plant-based milk – up 25% from 2020 – a change adopted by nearly half of 25 to 44-year-olds, according to Mintel research.
Dawn Carr, PETAs VP of vegan corporate projects, said: ‘Charging more for plant milk leaves a bad taste in customers’ mouths, particularly when it is a choice they make for their health, to be kind to cows, or for the planet.’
He claimed the move would ‘spare cows from harm’ and reduce methane emissions, but called for the oat milk charge to be scrapped, too.
Gail’s is actually one of the few high street coffee chains left that does charge for non-dairy milk, seemingly on brand with its reputation as a gentrification signifier. Pret a Manger hasn’t charged for oat, almond, soya and rice-coconut milk in the UK since 2020.
Where does free coffee subscriptions in the UK?
- LEON: The Roast Rewards programme costs £25 per month and allows subscribers access to five barista-made drinks each day. You can only order one coffee per hour though, as part of your daily limit.
- Coffee Club: The Coffee Club subscription covers a range of coffee shops – including Caffè Nero, Black Sheep Coffee, The Foundation Coffee House, Crepe Affaire, Ditto Coffee, and FCB Coffee. For £2.99 per month, members can access 25% off barista-made drinks all day, seven days a week on both drink-in and takeaway options. There’s also the annual version of the membership, which comes in at £24.99, and a 30-day free trial.
- Blank Street: Blank Street Regulars membership offers discounts on coffee, pastries and merchandise, and members are entitled to 14 free barista-made drinks per week (which can be hot or iced, and any size). Drinks can be redeemed once every 30 minutes, with a 20% discount offered on any extra drinks – so you can treat a friend with this one. The UK subscription fee comes in at £12, but sadly, it’s relatively exclusive. The waitlist is currently full, but it’s worth checking the website for regular updates.
- Costa: Costa Coffee’s Costa Club has a points system. Buying a drink gives customers a virtual bean, and once you’ve collected 10 of these, you’ll be entitled to a free drink of your choice at either a Costa store or a Costa Express machine. And if you use a reusable cup, you’ll get an extra bean added to your account.
Starbucks followed suit in 2022, while Costa Coffee and Caffe Nero don’t charge for soya milk – although oat or coconut milk is still an additional 45p.
A Gail’s spokesperson said: ‘We understand choice is important, which is why we’re proud to offer British-grown oat milk and soya as dairy alternatives.
‘We want to make it easier for everyone to enjoy their coffee or tea the way they like it, while remaining dedicated to sourcing high-quality ingredients that are both delicious and sustainable.’
But, PETA aren’t done with their campaigning yet. Writing on X, the charity wrote: ‘In case you missed it – GAIL’s have dropped their surcharge for Soya milk! Oat and almond next!’
‘A middle-class collaboration’…
In previous Gail’s news, we saw ‘the most middle-class collaboration of all time’, as Waitrose launched a Gail’s takeaway bakery.
It opened in the supermarket’s Canary Wharf store on June 6, 2024.
The two businesses had been in partnership for a while selling loaves of its artisan sourdough bread in stores, but Canary Wharf now offers even more, including baked goods and speciality coffee.
As well as grabbing a takeaway coffee and pastry treat such as a sausage roll or cinnamon bun, you can also shop the Gail’s range through click and collect online, and there’s even a selection of sharing platters available for home and office delivery.
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