John Gregg (baker)

John "Jack" Robson Gregg (1909–1964) was an English businessman, best known as the founder of Greggs, one of the United Kingdom's largest bakery businesses employing 20,158 staff and operatives.

Biography

Gregg was born at Canada Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, in 1909.[1] At the age of 14 he joined the family egg and yeast business.[1] He would make deliveries on his pushbike to local working-class homes.[2] He acquired a van in the 1930s.[1]

Gregg was called up to serve in the British Army during World War II and during this time his wife bought a second van and started distributing confectionery as well as ingredients for bread.[3] In 1951 he opened a shop on Gosforth high street.[4]

He died of lung cancer in 1964.[2]

Personal life

He was married to Elsie and together they went on to have two sons, Colin and Ian, and one daughter, Gay.[2]

He was a Freemason.[5]

References
  1. Ian Gregg (2013). Bread: The Story of Greggs. Corgi. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-552-16949-3.
  2. How famous bakery rose from pushbike yeast deliveries Evening Chronicle, 19 March 2008.
  3. Ian Gregg (2013). Bread: The Story of Greggs. Corgi. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-552-16949-3.
  4. Takeaway market holds key to Greggs' future Northern Echo, 18 November 2003.
  5. "Shipcote Lodge No.3626" (PDF). Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.