Subject: Re: Greggs PLC (GRG.L)
I know little about. (I don't even know why they don't have an apostrophe).


I also wondered about this important factoid. Here's what Grok has to say about it:

Historical Branding Convention: When John Gregg started his bakery business in Newcastle upon Tyne in the 1930s, it was common for small businesses, especially in retail or food, to add an "s" to the founder's surname to give the brand a broader, more established feel. This implied continuity, tradition, or a larger operation, even if it began as a one-person venture. Examples include Boots, Sainsbury's, or Marks & Spencer in the UK, where the "s" doesn't always indicate multiple founders but enhances market appeal.
Business Name Evolution: John Gregg initially operated as a door-to-door delivery service, but when he opened his first shop in 1951 on Gosforth High Street, it was branded Greggs of Gosforth. The "Greggs" name likely emerged to simplify and professionalize the business identity, moving away from just "Gregg" to sound more like a family-run or community staple. The "s" helped differentiate it as a commercial entity rather than a personal name.
No Plural Meaning: There's no evidence the "s" refers to multiple Greggs (e.g., family members or partners). John Gregg founded it alone, and his son Ian Gregg later expanded it, but the name was set before Ian's major involvement. It’s not a possessive (e.g., Gregg's bakery) but a stylistic choice.
Cultural Context: In Newcastle and the North East, where Greggs began, adding an "s" to shop names was a regional naming trend for small businesses, signaling familiarity and local trust. The company’s own history, per its website and reports, confirms the name derives directly from John Gregg’s surname, with the "s" as a branding flourish.

So, Greggs is called that instead of "Gregg" to align with traditional British business naming practices, making it sound more inviting and established. It’s been "Greggs" since at least the 1951 shop opening, long before its national growth.


Marks and Spencer is not a very convincing explanation - Marks and Spencer is because of Mr. Marks and Mr. Spencer, and Sainsbury's has the logical apostrophe. But Boots is because of Mr. Boot, and the company was originally Boot & cie, so that works.

Nice investing idea, though. Seems like a very reasonable price (10x) for a growing stream of earnings.

dtb