Greggs is launching a new discounted ‘quicknic’ meal deal – but only if your region achieves top marks on experts’ weather formula. The bakery chain has developed an AI-powered formula combining two years of weather and behavioural data to pinpoint the optimal days for workers to abandon their desks for a ‘Quicknic’ outdoors.
The formula takes into account lunchtime temperature, cloud coverage, rainfall, pollen levels and Britain’s enthusiasm for alfresco dining. The Greggs Forecasting Office will calculate scores for 12 regions weekly, and when a region reaches 24 points, a new £4.75 ‘Quicknic’ deal becomes available.
Greggs says this means the Quicknic could be accessible in Manchester while London awaits the necessary score. The formula has been named the ‘Quicknic Code’ and it enables customers to purchase a cold baguette and a sausage roll from just £4.75 – representing a 40p reduction on their lunch.
Greggs says temperature carries the most significant weight, while cloud, rain and pollen reduce the score. Regional baselines reflect the varying temperatures at which people throughout Britain alter their lunchtime behaviour, and a separate Lunch Outside Index gauges the nation’s desire for outdoor dining.
Zoe Harris, customer and marketing director at Greggs, said: “Nobody has ever put mathematicians, scientists and sausage roll makers together to create a lunch deal before, but that’s what we’ve done. Determining who gets the Quicknic deal isn’t based on just one weather forecast.
“Our formula crunches six important factors, from temperature and cloud cover to pollen levels and chance of rain, before deciding whether our new deal becomes live in each region. It may be the most scientifically advanced sausage roll and baguette deal ever created.”
Greggs claims its new Quicknic deal encourages office workers to abandon their desks at lunchtime, grab some food, locate a bench, wall or patch of grass, and make the most of the British sunshine while it’s here. The initiative follows fresh research commissioned by Greggs which reveals that the average Brit eats lunch at their desk four times per week.
The study also suggests that two thirds (66%) regularly feel regretful about remaining indoors for lunch when the sun is shining outside. Indeed, 57% of Brits would back a compulsory ‘Sunshine Law’ requiring people to spend their lunch break outdoors during hot and sunny conditions.
Nearly three quarters (73%) indicated that a reduced-price meal deal available exclusively on locally declared fine-weather days would persuade them to leave their workspace at lunchtime. From now until the end of summer, every Sunday the Greggs Forecasting Office will publish its Quicknic forecast across social media platforms for the forthcoming seven days, issuing individual predictions for each of Britain’s 12 regions.
The offer enables customers to combine a sausage roll, chicken roll, and vegan roll (pork free) with any cold baguettes currently available. Greggs is encouraging shoppers to monitor their nearest Greggs outlet and social media platforms to discover when the Quicknic becomes available in their locality.