Greggs, the bakery chain famous for its sausage rolls, faced a major hiccup this week as technical issues disrupted payment processing, leading to temporary closures of stores across several UK cities.
Reports emerged from various locations, including Newcastle, London, Cardiff, and Manchester, indicating that customers were turned away as shops struggled to accept payments.
The problem prompted frustrations among customers, who took to social media to express disappointment at being unable to satisfy their cravings.
(Photo : JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
A pedestrian passes a sign for a Greggs bakery in central London on March 5, 2024. British bakery Greggs, famed for its sausage rolls, said Tuesday it logged soaring profit last year, as consumers flocked to the budget chain during a cost-of-living crisis. Net profit leapt almost a fifth to £142.5 million ($180.6 million) from 2022, Greggs said in a results statement, adding that revenue soared by a similar proportion to £1.8 billion. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Greggs Stores Hit by Glitch Affecting Payments
The company issued a statement acknowledging the issue, stating, "We are currently experiencing issues accepting payments in our shops." However, they assured customers that they were working diligently to resolve the problem.
Fortunately, the glitch was swiftly rectified, with a spokesperson confirming that the majority of affected shops were once again able to accept both card and cash payments. Despite this, some outlets remained open but limited transactions to cash-only, causing inconvenience to those reliant on electronic payment methods
"We apologise for the inconvenience this may have caused to our customers," the spokesperson said (via The Guardian).
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Food Chains Worldwide Hit by System Outages
This incident marks the latest in a series of IT disruptions affecting major chains in the UK. Just days before, supermarket giants Sainsbury's and Tesco grappled with technical issues, impacting both in-store transactions and online deliveries. McDonald's branches across the Asia-Pacific also faced similar challenges, with customers worldwide experiencing difficulties placing orders.
The disruption left many questioning the reliability of modern payment systems, especially as reliance on digital transactions continues to grow. Frustrated customers lamented their experiences, with one individual sharing, "Greggs this morning cash only! Sitting here with my coffee watching almost everyone have to walk out."
In response to the chaos, some Greggs locations resorted to creative solutions, such as encouraging customers to utilize alternative ordering methods like click-and-collect or food delivery services like Uber Eats. Meanwhile, others displayed makeshift signs apologizing for the inconvenience caused by the technical issues.
Amidst the turmoil, Iceland, a supermarket chain known for its frozen products, seized the opportunity to inject humor into the situation. The company's CEO, Richard Walker, took to Twitter, cheekily inviting customers to enjoy their sausage rolls, a nod to Greggs' signature item, available at Iceland stores.
As the dust settles on this latest IT setback, questions linger about the frequency and severity of such disruptions plaguing major retailers.
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