Gatwick chief Jonathan Pollard welcomes GAIL'S bakery to the South Terminal

SussexWorld

Passengers flying from London Gatwick are now the first in the world to enjoy GAIL’s before boarding, as the much-loved London brand opens its debut airport bakery in the South Terminal. We caught with Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick about GAIL'S arriving.

Transcript

00:00I'm Jonathan Pollard, I'm the Chief Commercial Officer here at London Gatwick Airport.

00:03And we're here today at the opening of Gale's Bakery in the South Turtle.

00:07How exciting a day is this for you?

00:09It's tremendously exciting, I mean this is one, I've been here five years now,

00:12I don't think I can remember the level of anticipation that we've had

00:15from both staff and passengers.

00:17We did a soft launch two days ago

00:19and there was passengers that were trying to get into the unit then

00:22when it wasn't even open.

00:23So it's a tremendous day for us, great to bring Gale's to the airport.

00:26And it's a really impressive unit isn't it?

00:28I was surprised by the sheer scale of it when I came in.

00:30Well I think this is their biggest unit in the UK,

00:32it's certainly their first UK airport unit which we're tremendously excited about.

00:37But it is a big space but I think as you can already see,

00:40every seat is taken behind you

00:42and people are using the unit exactly as how it was designed for.

00:46It's very inviting, people can come in, they can get their sandwich,

00:49order a coffee and then of course consume it in the seating areas.

00:52And what is it about Gale's that you want to look at them in Gale's?

00:55Well I think if you look at how successful they've been in the UK

00:58it's testament to the quality, the range,

01:01it looks inviting

01:03and these are all the sorts of credentials

01:05that when we get prospective operators that say

01:08we'd like to come to Gatwick

01:10it's a key point of assessment for us.

01:12But they're tremendously popular.

01:14Yeah, I asked Tom that CEO of Gale's

01:16whether you'll be looking to have one in the north terminal as well

01:19he said you'll have to ask Gatwick.

01:20You have to ask Gatwick.

01:21So I'm asking Gatwick.

01:22Well I think I spoke to him just before

01:24and he said let's get this one done first

01:25because I think that you know

01:26I can sense this first day opening

01:28there's been a lot of anxiety

01:30to make sure today goes to plan

01:32which it absolutely is.

01:33But certainly look,

01:34we've seen it many times before

01:36where somebody starts in one terminal

01:38in due course they express interest for the other.

01:41But yeah, at the moment we're so happy

01:44to see today go the way that it is so far.

01:46And why do you think Gatwick

01:47is such an attractive proposition

01:49for retailers like Gale's?

01:51Well if I look at the south terminal

01:52we've just completed

01:53a £7.5 million refurbishment programme.

01:56We've modernised the environment

01:57it's far more inviting

01:59added more seating

02:01and so I think they recognise

02:03that we are investing

02:04in the Gatwick Airport product

02:06we've got a very diverse range of passengers

02:08that do like to enjoy their experience

02:10when they come through.

02:11So I guess if you're an operator

02:12you would want to know

02:13that there's a demand

02:14for what you offer

02:15but equally you want to make sure

02:17that it's an environment

02:18that does look modern

02:19that is attractive

02:20and reflects the major

02:22international gateway that we are.

02:24And is there any

02:25can you give us an insight

02:26into any more new retailers

02:27coming in or anything?

02:28I mean I would love to

02:29I would always love to

02:31but of course these things

02:32until they're signed and sealed

02:33we can't

02:34but I think it would be fair to say

02:35that you know Gale's arrival

02:37is testament to our focus

02:38on bringing in great quality brands

02:41that people want

02:42and broadening the range

02:44and choice for a passenger

02:45when they travel through the airport.

02:46therefore

02:50You

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