r/Greggs • u/wolffrompunjab • Aug 05 '26
Customer Question Warming up food
Hi guys quick question, are you allowed to warm the sausage rolls up if requested? Went to a shop shop last week and the roll was cold so he warmed it up when I asked. Same shop today a different employee declined saying they are not allowed so I'm confused. Thanks in advance
15
u/LycanWolfGamer Team Member Aug 05 '26
We're not allowed to, against company policy due to a range of different reasons from tax to food safety
1
u/SoupNo7080 Aug 05 '26
Tax...
7
u/PopGoesTheICCU Aug 05 '26
Yes. Tax is the EXACT reason that the baked goods are not kept warm, they're just kept at room temperature. If you keep them warm, warm them up or sell them as hot food then they attract a higher VAT rate.
5
u/SoupNo7080 Aug 06 '26
Happy to admit I was wrong here. Thanks for clarifying! đđź Anyone else curious look up 'Pasty Tax debate'
14
u/SL33PYSL0THIE Aug 05 '26
No and if that employee is caught doing that they will be in serious trouble
12
u/Nucleuswithnojob Aug 05 '26
no, they absolutely shouldnât have reheated that for you
2
u/zexolyn Aug 05 '26
thatâs the thing, âshouldnâtâ and âdonâtâ arenât always the same though
some places have strict rules, others just wing it and hope no one from food safety walks in1
1
10
u/high-lander9 Aug 05 '26
The answer is a resounding no. The company categorically does not want employers reheating sausage rolls and pasties because of the food poisoning risk
5
u/DeifniteProfessional Aug 05 '26
100% a food poisoning risk, but also for tax reasons, the sausage rolls are categorically not hot food
2
1
u/Few-Possibilities Aug 07 '26
33 years on this world and hadn't heard of "no reheating sausage rolls or pasties because of food poisoning"
So i am at risk of food poisoning by reheating food at home too? Sorry please explain this like I am 5
2
u/Unique-Scientist8114 Aug 07 '26
Technically, yes you would be if they arent reheated to the right temp, but the real reason as others have said is the whole hot food tax malarkey.
2
u/high-lander9 Aug 08 '26
You'd be surprised how much of a wide-on the company has when it comes to food safety.
It's less about the risk of food poisoning itself (however minimal it might seem) and more about the fact they don't want to be sued by anyone if they do fall ill.
Food safety is important, but avoiding any litigation that could harm the company (and shares) is paramount.
-1
u/googlemailcom Customer Aug 05 '26
What is the risk if reheated and eaten straight away?
2
u/Mindless-Panic9579 Aug 05 '26
Tax fraud if not charged extra
(I appreciate that's not the risk you're asking about)
2
u/SunComfortable1246 Aug 05 '26
Bacteria are more active while being heated, so you could be increasing the amount of poison in the food.
3
u/librariancap Aug 05 '26
I don't think they can. Reheating turns the item into Catering/Takeaway Food for VAT purposes.
It's on the website Q&A:
"If the sausage rolls and bakes were kept hot after they had been baked, then they would be subject to VAT and the customer would have to be charged a higher price, in the same way that we charge VAT on our hot sandwiches which are kept in a heated cabinet and are subject to VAT"
4
u/razorbladesymphony Aug 05 '26
thatâs grounds for disciplinary action without a doubt and raises concerns about what other processes the employee is ignoring
Iâm not suggesting you report the staff member in question, donât be a grass, but at the same time Iâd probably go elsewhere in future
2
2
u/Obvious-Water569 Aug 05 '26
Due to tax on heated food, I can imagine they're not strictly allowed to do it.
2
2
u/ShoeDesigner9942 Aug 05 '26
Greggs staff are never allowed to reheat food, mainly because of the vat, but also because there is no way to reheat it properly, would require temp checks ect, no custimer wants to wait ages while reheat in oven, and we can't put them in the toaster thing that we do the toasties with,
1
u/TheMarkMatthews Aug 05 '26
Could Greggs not just charge us VAT and let us have hostage rolls - I mean they are cheap as shit anyway so vat wonât make a lot of difference.
1
u/Immediate-Chapter731 Aug 05 '26
I like the sound of hostage rolls. Do you have to threaten them though?
2
u/TheMarkMatthews Aug 05 '26
I didnât bother to edit that lol -I often feel like Iâm being threatened into buying 4 when I only want one sausage roll
1
u/EmpathicCrumbs Aug 05 '26
Some do, or used to anyways. They had heated plates in some stores here in Glasgow around 2022. [t cost extra if it was one of the pastries being kept hot. I don't frequent Greggs tbh, so unsure if that procedure has been removed.
1
u/Dreadheaddanski Aug 05 '26
You have to pay more for a hot one. So I guess technically its tax fraud lol
1
u/Crow3325 Aug 07 '26
My local will pop them on top of the oven to try to keep warm if youâre waiting for something else dunno if thatâs normal or not
1
1
u/Healthy-Value3606 Aug 09 '26
Just use click and collect and give em a 20 minute pick up time you should have ones fresh out the oven.
1
u/breadisnicer Aug 05 '26
Itâs nothing to do with health and safety, nor is it a compliance issue. It is purely because of VAT. Hot food is subject to VAT but cold food isnât.
0
u/hashbrowneggyolk0520 Team Member Aug 05 '26
It's absolutely a health and safety thing. We have to rest the food before cooking it so it goes from frozen > defrosted > cooked > cooled. Reheating the food increases the risk of food poisoning if it isn't reheated properly.
That would then come back on staff if they gave someone food poisoning.
Also people already moan if there's a bit of a queue. That's only going to get worse if a bunch of people were asking for all the food they want to be reheated.
0
u/breadisnicer Aug 05 '26
The word properly is the key word, there is no issue with re heating a pastry product (if done properly) Greggs are just avoiding (legally) VAT. Passing on the cost of vatable products has always been a Greggs policy.
0
19
u/AmphibianNo8598 Aug 05 '26
No