I'm planning opening a pasty shop - what are the profit expectations?

edgex

PasturesNew wrote: »

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/downingstreet/3797491025/

"Cornish Pasties from the Cornish Pasty Association at a roadshow highlighting foods which have or are applying for Protected Food Name Status"

which they have

so if your not making them in Cornwall, you cant call them Cornish Pasties
probably cant even suggest it with pictures of cornwall

Snooze

Don't be fooled into thinking there's a market just because Gregg's is always chocker. The thing with Gregg's is that they've been around since the year dot under various names and people know that you're pretty much guaranteed a decent snack at a decent price every time. Personally I've never had anything bad from them and while their stuff is never gonna break any records, it's reasonably tasty and fills a hole.

The problem with the shop across the road that sells the same stuff (ie. you) is that you've no idea what you're gonna end up with nor have you any idea what size it will be or how much it will cost. When you're starving to death (like most people are when they go to these places) you want to know in advance that what you're buying is going to do the job and leave you satisfied and that's why Gregg's works. You don't go to the other place because you fear finding yourself unsatisfied afterwards, be it from the taste, quality, size or price. A lot of people like to stick to what they know. Getting the punters through the door will be your biggest challenge and if you've got a Gregg's on your doorstep then I think you'll find it very difficult.

The idea about the catering van to events needs a few words of caution as well - the competition for these events is VERY high as everyone else with a catering van in the area has the same idea of flogging food at 10 times the normal prices to make a nice killing. The reality is that in most cases there are that many other catering vans there that the business is too diluted to make the pitch fee worth it (the pitch fee being the reason why you need to flog everything at 10 times the usual price to stand any chance of making a profit).

Not saying it can't be done, but if it was all so easy and such huge profits there for the taking then why isn't everybody else doing it? :think:

R

lostinrates

Afriend wrote: »

I'll put my pedal to the metal and my foot to the floor and will be there a couple of hours.
What 'toys' do you want me to bring?

Just a pasty

flea72

we had an oggyoggy in our town, but they shut down the town centre shop, and just continued with their delivery rounds (they have about 3 vans going around the trading estates in the area)

since the shop closed, we have had two other pasty franchises open within the town, both within a few doors of each other, and a Bakers Oven - we dont have a greggs here yet

all are very busy 7 days a week. however they dont just sell pasties/pies, pizza slices seem be quite popular, as do soup and jacket potatoes

if i had a choice though, i would buy from oggyoggy, as they do really tasty, reasonably priced sausage rolls

Flea

rach83

I live in Cheltenham and we have a fantastic pasty shop. They do a fantastic range of pasties but they also do baguettes (make them while you wait) soups, posh crisps, brownies, muffins etc. They are in a pretty good location (passing trade) but the real key is that their prices are realistic and the quality is spot on. They seem to have the balance and I am led to believe that they are doing a roaring trade. Greggs are a few doors down and all the chavs will go there cause they no know better! Greggs is mingin' in my opinion.

Davesnave

Lots of you have mentioned Greggs. Am I the only one here who, on going to a new town, spends maybe half an hour sizing-up the local bakers and avoiding Greggs like the plague?

I really don't understand why they are popular.

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

Lots of you have mentioned Greggs. Am I the only one here who, on going to a new town, spends maybe half an hour sizing-up the local bakers and avoiding Greggs like the plague?

I really don't understand why they are popular.

I'm not sure I've ever eaten anything from there. I know where our nearest is, and DH has, but DH can be a bit of a dustbin. I think the signage rally puts me off.:o

Thrugelmir

Davesnave wrote: »

Lots of you have mentioned Greggs. Am I the only one here who, on going to a new town, spends maybe half an hour sizing-up the local bakers and avoiding Greggs like the plague?

I really don't understand why they are popular.

The units based on industrial estates are cheap in comparison to other food high street outlets.

Really2

Jonbvn wrote: »

Local butcher near us makes pies to die for. Who ate all the pies?:p

Same here, proper steak not over cooked beef. mmmmm.

lostinrates

Really2 wrote: »

Same here, proper steak not over cooked beef. mmmmm.

I'm sorry really, that one made me giggle, I know you know I understand wood pasty sounds yucky.