John "Jack" Robson Gregg (1909–1964) was an English businessman, best known as the founder of Greggs, the United Kingdom's largest bakery chain.

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 1939, he founded Greggs, a family bakery store in Tyneside, with its first shop opening in 1951 on Gosforth high street.[4] By 1953, the business consisted of one shop and six vans selling products from the bakery.[5]

He died of lung cancer in 1964.[2] After his death, his son, Ian Gregg, took over the family business.[4]

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 also known by the name "Jack".[5]

He was a Freemason.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ian Gregg (2013). Bread: The Story of Greggs. Corgi. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-552-16949-3.
  2. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 Takeaway market holds key to Greggs' future Northern Echo, 18 November 2003.
  5. 1 2 "How Gregg's bakery rose from pushbike yeast deliveries". ChronicleLive. Evening Chronicle. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  6. ↑ "Shipcote Lodge No.3626" (PDF). Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)


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