Greggs staff members use ‘clever code’ to tell pasties apart

Greggs is a staple part of British culture.

Whether you're stopping for a famous steak bake and sausage roll, the iconic blue logo is a comforting sight for a hungry person on the go.

The bakery chain started 70 years ago as a single shop in Newcastle – and has grown to having 2,000 stores across the UK, employing 25,000 people.

READ MORE: UK's North-South precise dividing line located thanks to Greggs and Pret A Manger

But Greggs fans have now been given the chance to learn the secrets of the operations that bring us the delicious golden brown pastries in store, as an insider has lifted the lid on them in a Channel 5 documentary.

In the show, which aired on June 8, columnist and food critic Grace Dent spoke to insiders about the secret code used to help them tell the difference between the various goods they're serving.

Sharing that code with the Mirror, Jamie Dear, a former store manager said: "This is something I hadn't noticed when I was a shopper at Greggs before I started working there."

Every pasty has unique markings on top which staff need to learn so they can quickly and easily identify the product.

"One of the first things you have to do is learn the markings," explained Jamie.

"And it can only really be done in a textbook style with a list and picture of what it should look like. It's like a new language.

"The corned beef has a zig zag line going across it, the sausage and bean has three horizontal slits, while the ham and cheese bake has a trim round the side with lines across.

"The cheese and onion bake has got giant Vs and the steak bake has three diagonal slits with a trim around the side."

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But it also turns out that the secret markings aren’t just for coding the products as they also allow the steam to escape in the oven – to keep the pastry crisp and not soggy.

Sukina Coyle, Regional Process Development Manager, said: "You’re looking for some breakage in the pastry but as you can see they’re evenly spaced for even lift on the product. It’s always science."

To catch up with the latest from Greggs: Secrets of Their Best Bakes stream it on Channel 5.

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