steviedeluxe

A strange row has broken out in the UK, and certain newspapers have pretended to be astounded that the Chancellor George Osborne never eats in Greggs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...-david-cameron

What would be the Spanish equivalent? (a chain food store). 100 montaditos? Only other 2 chains in this line I can think of currently are Pans&Company, and Rodilla.

lynnxa

I can't think of any others............... but my local Iceland stocks Greggs sausage rolls

Fred James

But are they hot?

steviedeluxe

Do warm empanadas or kebabs in Spain attract IVA?

Dick Dasterdly

I doubt if much of it attracts any sort of tax at all, if not sold by major retailers, but there again it's much the same for that sort of stuff the world over.

jimenato

Yes - everything does - in theory.

agoreira

Making kebabs, a thriving Spanish business! Watch from about 1.35min, I was never keen to eat them before, even less so now!
http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/c...-alza/1343604/

lynnxa

no - they're the frozen ones you can get in Iceland in the UK - real Greggs though

they are hot by the time you eat them though

steviedeluxe

I've worked in food production factories in Leicester, and that video brought back memories. Only difference was the fact the production staff were wearing face masks - we didn't back then but it seems a worthwhile measure. We did wear the hair-nets or hats though
I think a lot of people would be shocked if they realised how many different pairs of hands had put together their sandwich that's sold in the supermarket.

Dick Dasterdly

Much the same behind the scenes in many fancy restaurants, but that's another topic I suppose.

Greggs in Spain I do NOT miss, but I do miss the huge variety of English Butchers fresh made pies, pasties, sausage rolls and all.

Spanish butchers just don't cut the mustard for me.
By the time I get back to the UK I always have serious withdrawal symptoms.

jackytoo

Been a lot of good publicity for Greggs...are they really as good as they say? AFAIK I have never been in one. I like a pasty occasionally but it's not as if they were essential like bread/eggs or something. Fish and chip shops have to pay VAT so why not a pasty shop?

bobd22

Greggs started in the North East but are now a national chain. They do a range of pasties pies bread buns etc, none of it very fancy but a good basic and popular product. They have and continue even through the credit crunch to expand and have diversified. So they have done all that the government have asked to grow how much of an affect this will have on their sales, but I suppose wont help time will tell. I suppose they have had an advantage over some other fast food outlets but that stems from them being a bakery. As they said on question time whether this is right or wrong is pretty much irrelevant it is just so complicated to work out what and when something is hot whether it is bread i.e. in the case of Croissants etc, other parties had looked at it and said it's a nightmare that will come back and bite us so just leave it alone.

Fredbargate

There were some comments on the TV, apparently hot food pays vat, cold food does not.
But what is the definition of hot food?
Pasties etc are generally sold warm, on a hot summers day they could be colder than the air temperature.
So in the morning you may have to pay VAT but on a hot afternoon they could be VAT free

Warm fish and chips are disgusting.

lynnxa

I have never been in a Greggs, but my sister in law in the UK bought some Greggs sausage rolls while were staying with her......... & they are 'the business'

then another sis in law said that Iceland do them frozen - it says Greggs on the box -we compared - they are exactly the same


have to say I was delighted to find them in our Iceland here

I thought all take-away to eat now food attracted VAT

bobd22

Here's why it is so complicated and probably should have been left alone

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/vfood.../vfood4280.htm