| Monday 28 September 2026 | Week 40 · price: 1 croissant |
THE GAZETTE Bobby & the Homies · GAIL's BH Area |
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Afternoon all
COFFEE CAME GOOD AND CUSTOMERS NOTICED
Beaconsfield · Menu tasting 🥐 | Summertown · The fantastic 4 | Area team · Presenter ⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
Evening all, autumn has officially landed. Last week gave us some cracking coffee, a Challah rescue mission worthy of a film, and a few numbers that clearly fancied a lie-in. Coats on, ovens up, let's make this one count.
Availability 74.7% ▲ +10.5 | Coffee 69.2% ▲ +4.4 | Waste +1.0 · 0 | Labour +1.7 vs budget | NPS 47.6 target 55 |
| NAILING IT, THAME! 🔥 |
Coffee is the headline act, with the area nudging over target like a barista sneaking an extra shot into their own flat white. Jericho and Thame, you were flying, and Beaconsfield, you were right up there with them.
Area 69.2% | Target 68.0% | Above target 6/10 | Best Jericho 81.5 |
| Bakery | Coffee | Vs target |
|---|---|---|
| Jericho | 81.5% | +13.5 |
| Thame | 81.1% | +13.1 |
| Beaconsfield | 78.3% | +10.3 |
| Henley | 74.2% | +6.2 |
| Banbury | 73.8% | +5.8 |
| Gerrards Cross | 69.9% | +1.9 |
| Summertown | 66.4% | -1.6 |
| Witney | 60.5% | -7.5 |
| Marlow | 54.6% | -13.4 |
| Reading | 52.0% | -16.0 |
Streak watch ☕
Jericho and Thame, you both cleared the 68% target by more than 13 points this week, so the streak starts here, keep the counter going.
| BIN IT? THINK IT 🗑️ |
Waste is where the bin had a better week than we did, with most of us over budget. Summertown and Marlow, you were the closest to the line, and Marlow, cutting back pantry orders to only what you need is exactly the kind of boring genius that works. Henley, that overnight fridge failure was pure bad luck, and Witney, you've already said it's better but not there yet, which is honest and fair. Let's order for the week we're actually going to have, not the one we're dreaming of.
Area actual 6.7% | Budget 5.7% | Variance +1.0 | Under budget 1/10 |
| Bakery | Actual | Budget | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaconsfield | 0.0% | 5.5% | -5.5 |
| Summertown | 5.7% | 5.2% | +0.5 |
| Marlow | 6.2% | 5.3% | +0.9 |
| Reading | 6.6% | 5.5% | +1.1 |
| Jericho | 6.4% | 5.0% | +1.4 |
| Banbury | 7.8% | 6.0% | +1.8 |
| Gerrards Cross | 7.6% | 5.6% | +2.0 |
| Witney | 9.7% | 7.6% | +2.1 |
| Thame | 8.7% | 6.3% | +2.4 |
| Henley | 8.1% | 5.2% | +2.9 |
| GO AGAIN 💷 |
Sales mostly landed a whisker under forecast, with last year stubbornly refusing to be beaten on like for like, rude of it. Summertown, you beat forecast outright, and Marlow and Thame were close enough to high-five it. Marlow, your team steering customers to hot drinks while the ice machine sulked was lovely salesmanship. Witney, between roadworks and new competitors you've had a tough run, so shout if a fresh pair of eyes on the forecast would help, and let's all chase every last upsell this week.
Actual sales £247,362 | Area L4L -8.8% | This week forecast £253,333 | Sites reported 10/10 |
| Bakery | Actual | Vs forecast | L4L | Next week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlow | £31,158 | -0.2% | -3.0% | £29,500 |
| Jericho | £30,976 | -2.0% | -9.4% | £33,100 |
| Henley | £29,833 | -1.1% | -1.5% | £30,500 |
| Summertown | £27,791 | +2.2% | -14.4% | £29,500 |
| Beaconsfield | £26,711 | -0.7% | -5.1% | £27,000 |
| Reading | £24,122 | -1.5% | -23.0% | £24,983 |
| Gerrards Cross | £22,319 | -7.0% | -5.6% | £23,500 |
| Thame | £21,005 | -0.7% | -2.0% | £21,000 |
| Banbury | £19,883 | -12.0% | — | £20,250 |
| Witney | £13,566 | -5.6% | -15.1% | £14,000 |
Banked last week £247,362 | Summertown, you banked £27,791 against a £27,200 forecast, the only site to beat forecast last week, lovely stuff.
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Labour ran a bit rich across the patch, like a croissant with too much butter, tasty but pricey. Marlow and Henley, you came in under budget, and Marlow, shifting a mid from 7:30 to 8 is the tiny tweak that pays for itself. Witney, you've already spotted the softer sales and started trimming, so let's look at the rota together if that helps. Right people, right hour, and the percentage takes care of itself.
Actual 27.1% | Budget 25.4% | Variance +1.7% | Under budget 3/10 |
| Bakery | Actual | Budget | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlow | 21.6% | 23.7% | -2.1% |
| Henley | 23.6% | 24.7% | -1.0% |
| Thame | 27.6% | 27.7% | -0.2% |
| Summertown | 23.3% | 22.9% | +0.3% |
| Jericho | 24.8% | 23.4% | +1.4% |
| Reading | 25.8% | 23.8% | +2.0% |
| Beaconsfield | 26.5% | 24.4% | +2.1% |
| Gerrards Cross | 28.8% | 25.1% | +3.7% |
| Witney | 37.7% | 32.5% | +5.1% |
| Banbury | 31.4% | 25.4% | +6.1% |
CP was a tough one, with almost the whole patch below budget, so we're all in the same leaky boat and bailing together. Marlow, you're the only one over the line, which is a proper result given the external staff costs, and Summertown, you were a whisker off.
Area actual 65.2% | Area budget 68.4% | Variance -3.1% | Sites reported 10/10 |
| Bakery | Actual | Budget | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlow | 72.0% | 70.5% | +1.5% |
| Summertown | 71.1% | 71.4% | -0.3% |
| Thame | 64.0% | 65.2% | -1.2% |
| Henley | 67.7% | 69.6% | -1.9% |
| Jericho | 68.6% | 71.1% | -2.5% |
| Reading | 67.7% | 70.3% | -2.6% |
| Beaconsfield | 65.4% | 69.6% | -4.2% |
| Gerrards Cross | 63.2% | 68.6% | -5.4% |
| Witney | 52.1% | 59.1% | -7.0% |
| Banbury | 60.6% | 68.1% | -7.5% |
One to watch
Banbury, you finished 7.5 points under your CP budget, so start with a daily look at waste and ordering, and I'm happy to come in and go through it with you.
| WIN THEM BACK 💌 |
NPS sits below target as an area, although Reading's score hasn't updated in a fortnight, so that one is a ghost number rather than a verdict. Jericho, Summertown and Thame, customers clearly love you, soak it up. Beaconsfield, your comments are a proper mixed bag of cleanliness praise and price grumbles, so a quick huddle on the amber to green plan feels like the right move. Every friendly hello this week is a vote in our favour, so let's rig the election.
Area average 47.6 | Target 55 | Best Jericho · 66 | Responses 10/10 |
| Jericho | 66.0 | |||
| Summertown | 63.0 | |||
| Thame | 61.0 | |||
| Gerrards Cross | 59.0 | |||
| Banbury | 56.0 | |||
| Marlow | 52.0 | |||
| Witney | 52.0 | |||
| Henley | 46.0 | |||
| Beaconsfield | 34.0 | |||
| Reading | -13.0 |
The tick marks the 55% line.
CUSTOMER STORY OF THE WEEK 💛
“I have filled in a survey but I would just like to be sure someone will feed back to the amazing staff at Gail’s in Reading. The team were exceptional. My friend suffered an adverse reaction to some prescription medication whilst in the shop. She had taken an antibiotic 1 hour before and she became very unwell, with a drop in blood pressure, increase in heart rate and near collapse. The staff were wonderful. Someone immediately came over and asked if they could help and if we needed an ambulance. I’m a paramedic and had some kit with me so I was able to monitor her, she got slowly better but spent quite a bit of time lying on the floor with her legs up and then going back and forwards to the toilet. The staff really looked after us, brought her peppermint tea, engaged with her children who understandably found it all quite scary and checked in regularly if we needed further help. We were in the shop for a couple of hours until she felt well enough to stand up and walk to the car. I’m sorry I didn’t get their names but I hope that they can be recognised for the great customer care they provided and the help they gave us. My friend is feeling better now and seeing the GP today. Many thanks to all involved and well done to Gail’s for employing such great staff. Your coffee is awesome too!”
| from a customer email · sent in by Bobby |
Customers’ choice · highest NPS
An NPS of 66, the best score anywhere on the patch. Your customers just told everyone.
| Standout of the week
Witney, when the Challah didn't arrive, Gemma and Dan went and fetched one from Jericho for a regular, and that is exactly who we are.
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Standout can be anything, a number, a save, a moment. Nominate someone at submit.gailshub.uk.
Here are 2 crackers from your teams. Keep them coming.
TEAM PLAYER ⭐ For Gemma (Witney) & Saf (Gerrards Cross) “Covering shifts in Marlow and supporting the team! 👊🏻 forever thankful.” 📣 Bobby · Area team | LEGEND 🏆 For Bibi - Banbury Gateway “Always positive and with a smile and ready to help whenever is needed.” 📣 Helder Pinheiro · Banbury |
| Got someone to shout out? Takes 30 seconds. | → submit.gailshub.uk |
Three favourites from your teams. Best one next week gets the front page.
 Witney Community · Area team |  Siobhan's training plan and execution for Westgate team · Jericho |  Team Beaconsfield · Beaconsfield |
Send yours → submit.gailshub.uk · best one makes photo of the week
| 🎂 | Bridie Ludlow Thame · 1st Bridie, happy birthday on Thursday, hope Thame makes a proper fuss and saves you a treat. |
| 🏅 |
Gerrards Cross Iga, three years leading Gerrards Cross, thank you for the energy and care you bring every day. |
| 🏅 |
Jericho Ruby, two years behind the Jericho machine and those coffees keep getting better, happy anniversary. |
| 🏅 |
Summertown Oxford Natalia, four years of brilliant cooking at Summertown, thank you, the kitchen wouldn't be the same without you. |
Make sure they hear it in person too, cake is not optional.
Christmas Party + GQA 15th December. Next Cascade: 27th October Deadline Alert! All RWG ratings to be submitted by 16th October. | Quote of the week Less, but better." Dieter Rams, industrial designer. It works just as well for an order sheet as it does for a radio, because every tray we don't overbake is a pound that lands in CP instead of the bin.
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This week’s mission
TIGHTEN ORDERING AND WASTE ACROSS EVERY SITE SO THAT EACH POUND WE DON'T BIN GOES STRAIGHT BACK INTO CP.
Waste is the one lever every site controls today, and it feeds straight into the CP number we're all short on.
Have a great week everyone.
Bobby
Bobby
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