Greggs is offering a new discounted “Quicknic” meal deal, but it is only available in UK regions that score 24 on a weather formula developed with the help of artificial intelligence.
The bakery chain said the AI-assisted formula combines two years of weather and behaviour analysis to identify the best days for workers to leave their desks and eat outdoors. The system weighs up lunchtime temperature, cloud cover, rain, pollen and Britain’s appetite for eating outside. The Greggs Forecasting Office calculates the score for 12 regions every week, and when a region hits 24, the £4.75 deal is unlocked.
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."
How the Quicknic Code works
Greggs says temperature has the greatest influence on the score, while cloud cover, rain and pollen lower it. Regional baselines reflect the different temperatures at which people across Britain change their lunchtime habits, and a separate Lunch Outside Index measures the nation’s appetite for eating outdoors.
The company added that the deal could be available in Manchester while London waits for the numbers to add up. Customers can grab a cold baguette and a sausage roll from £4.75, saving 40p on their lunch. The formula has been dubbed the “Quicknic Code”.
Brits’ lunch habits
New research conducted by Greggs reveals that the average Brit has four lunches a week sat at their desk. The study also claims that two thirds (66%) of people say they regularly regret sitting in their office for lunch when it’s sunny outside.
In fact, 57% of Brits say they would support a mandatory “Sunshine Law” ensuring people spend their lunch break outside in hot and sunny weather. Almost three quarters (73%) said a discounted meal deal available only on locally declared good-weather days would make them leave their desk for lunch.
When and where to get the deal
Every Sunday until the end of summer, the Greggs Forecasting Office will issue its Quicknic forecast on social channels for the full seven days ahead, making a separate call for each of Britain’s 12 regions. The deal allows shoppers to pair a sausage roll, chicken roll, or vegan roll (pork free) with any available cold baguette.
Greggs is urging customers to keep an eye on their local Greggs shop and social media channels to find out when the Quicknic has been activated in their area. A table showing the regions where the deal is available this week was included in the announcement.
