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[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ian Gregg (2013). Bread: The Story of Greggs. Corgi. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-552-16949-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=zCEC07mbuPkC&pg=PA17.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 How famous bakery rose from pushbike yeast deliveries Evening Chronicle, 19 March 2008.
- ↑ Ian Gregg (2013). Bread: The Story of Greggs. Corgi. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-552-16949-3. https://books.google.com/books?id=zCEC07mbuPkC&pg=PA18.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Takeaway market holds key to Greggs' future Northern Echo, 18 November 2003.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "How Gregg's bakery rose from pushbike yeast deliveries" (in en). Evening Chronicle. 2008-03-19. http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/how-greggs-bakery-rose-pushbike-1468041.
- ↑ "Shipcote Lodge No.3626". http://ows.durhamfreemasons.org/Download/Misc%20Documents/Shipcote%20100%20Years.pdf.
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