When my editor offered me the chance to review sausage rolls, I definitely didn't need asking twice. I was given the very tasty assignment of heading out (during Storm Babet!) and pitting a high street favourite against a local bakery chain.
The blue and orange Greggs logo is known across the nation, with over 2,000 stores across the UK in service stations and high streets. Meanwhile, the humble Gerrard's Bakery [with history dating back to the 1800s] can be found in a few towns and cities across North Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside with 18 shops.
Greggs is an easy option as a quick bite to eat with a decent variety and isn't too bank-breaking either. However, there's something warm and inviting about a Gerrard's that keeps me coming back.
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So, first things first, I called into Gerrard's to pick up my dinner. Along with two sausage rolls I decided to grab some sweet treats in the form of Belgian Buns, costing a total of £6.10. I tried to find items that matched closely to what I could get in Greggs so the test would be fair.
The smell of the shop was lovely and really worked up my appetite. Everything was displayed neatly in the display counters and there was never a sense of rush to pick your food either, we even had a little chat whilst my order was being prepared which was a welcome change to big chains making customers feel like they're just part of a revolving door.
![The sweet treat selection at Gerrard's was very tempting!](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/incoming/article27950503.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-20-at-140913jpeg.jpg)
Having secured the goods, I took my haul of baked goods back to the car and headed to the Greggs on Mold's Wylfa roundabout, inside the service station with Asda. If this had been 2019, I'd only have needed to pop a little further up Mold High Street to Greggs but the chain shut that shop just ahead of the pandemic
Inside, and approaching peak dinner break hour, the queue was lengthy but seemed to go down quickly. It gave me a chance to see what was on offer from the generous selection of sweet and savoury products.
I picked up the staple sausage rolls as well as two more buns which came to a grand total of £5.25. I then brought everything home to try side-by-side and this is what I thought...
Sausage Rolls:
![Side-by-side the Greggs sausage roll against the Gerrard's option](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/incoming/article27950494.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-20-at-140913-2jpeg.jpg)
Many businesses have took their take on the humble sausage roll to the public, but none have been more successful than Greggs. But, comparing two rolls side-by-side like this allows you so really notice the differences.
Greggs was much slimmer than Gerrard's - and a smidge taller too. But the real difference was beneath the flay golden pastry.
Cutting into these rolls like some kind of baked goods autopsy revealed one was packing much more sausage meat than the other. I noticed first and foremost that Greggs was paler than the Gerrard's roll and a bit less of it too.
Tasting them settled the score, with Gerrard's being my favourite of the two. It had much more flavourful meat and felt fresher than the Greggs roll.
- Gerrard's Score - 8/10
- Greggs Score - 6/10
Sweet Treat:
![Belgian Buns from Greggs and Gerrard's bakery in Mold, Flintshire](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/incoming/article27950492.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_WhatsApp-Image-2023-10-20-at-140915jpeg.jpg)
I'll be honest here and say this was my first time having a Belgian Bun. There was nothing in Gerrard's like my go-to Greggs treat - a 'Pink Jammie' doughnut - so I opted for something I knew would be in both so they had a fair fight to win me over.
Initial impressions were in favour of Gerrard's having a bun that dwarfed the Gregg's boxed versions (as the counter had no single versions). I noticed that one was bigger than the other in Gregg's meaning someone is getting the short straw (or bun) when it comes to getting their afternoon treat.
Tucking in to each, I can honestly say that Gerrard's claimed the victory once again. It was tasty and found a perfect balance of sweetness that didn't overpower my taste buds - unlike the Greggs one. It wasn't bad by any means, and I can see why they're a relatively popular item, but I think I'll stick to what I know at Greggs rather than be adventurous again!
- Gerrard's Score - 7/10
- Greggs Score - 4/10
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