Greggs and Tesco went head-to-head on social media website Twitter last week after an online user asked which company produced the best yum yums.
The online conversation, which started on Friday 22 February, was initiated by a Twitter user called @DJRuairidh, also known as Ruairidh Tait, who said: “Whose yum yums are better; @GreggstheBakers or @UKTesco? I’m hungry!”
Tesco was first off the mark to reply from its dedicated Customer Care Twitter account (@UKTesco), responding with: “@DJRuairidh Ours! #Blates.”
The online user, a 17-year-old Scottish journalist, pitted the two food retailers against each other, asking Tesco for one key selling point over Greggs’ version of the sweet bakery good, to which the supermarket business described its own yum yums as “lush” and proclaimed the company had a better Twitter team.
The top BB75 retailer Greggs fought back by posting a weblink to an online article published on dailymail.co.uk, showing James Morton, runner-up in series three of BBC Two’s The Great British Bake Off, spotted eating a yum yum purchased from one of its shops back in October.
Tait revealed exclusively to British Baker: “I feel Greggs offered a better response with regards to my question, stating that its yum yums were freshly made in-store and were hand-twisted. The company even wanted to prove it and asked me to message them directly, so I did.
“In response, they asked where my nearest Greggs bakery was and the person on the other end said to give it 10 minutes and they would have some yum yums ready to collect.”
The Twitter conversation ended amicably between Greggs and Tesco, but the high street retail bakery was quick to act on Tait’s question as to which business he should visit by offering him free yum yums and a hot chocolate.
Neil Knowles, digital brand manager at Greggs, told British Baker: “Seeing the challenge from @DJRuairidh over whose yums yums were better, we knew there was no better proof than in the taste. So we offered a free trial at his local shop. Throughout the conversation the sentiment was hugely positive and we had lots of public support in favour of our yum yums.
“Twitter is full of mentions about Greggs and we love being part of that conversation – whether that’s with our customers or another brand. Social media is a great way to engage with people and it’s really important to us that we engage with our customers.”
Tait added: “It has certainly changed my perception of both companies and it was all in good humour - something that is great to see from two well-known UK brands, especially in such a bad economic climate when some companies are letting go of people who run social networking.
“I think it is a great thing. Companies should invest more into their customer engagement. It adds a more fun side to the business and is enjoyable for all. I’d now be more likely to pop in to Tesco rather than other supermarkets, and Greggs rather than other bakers.”
British Baker contacted Tesco for comment, but the company did not reply.
View the full Twitter conversation between @DJRuairidh, @GreggstheBakers and @UKTesco below.
[<a href="//storify.com/SamanthaEdwards/greggs-and-tesco-in-twitter-wars" target="_blank">View the story "Greggs and Tesco in Twitter wars" on Storify</a>]<h1>Greggs and Tesco in Twitter wars</h1><h2>The top BB75 bakery retailer and national supermarket firm went head-to-head after one online user asked which company produced the best yum yums.</h2><p>Storified by <a href="http://storify.com/SamanthaEdwards">Samantha Edwards</a>· Mon, Feb 25 2013 03:53:09</p><div>Who’s yum yums are better; @GreggstheBakers or @UKTesco? I’m hungry!Ruairidh</div><div>@DJRuairidh Ours! #BlatesTesco Customer Care</div><div>@UKTesco haha okay, if you can give me one key selling point for your yum yums that Greggs don’t have, I will go and buy some now ;)Ruairidh</div><div>@DJRuairidh Because our Twitter team is better than theirs and our Yum Yums are just lush... ;)Tesco Customer Care</div><div>@DJRuairidh Oh hi @UKTesco Do you sell whoopass in cans? We didn’t want to open our last one.Greggs the Bakers</div><div>@GreggstheBakers Do you realise you replied to the same tweet twice? #AwkwardTesco Customer Care</div><div>@UKTesco Well our yumyums are doubly delicious. This guy thinks so anyway: http://bit.ly/X17EtM #whoseatingyouryumyums #awkwardGreggs the Bakers</div><div>@GreggstheBakers #WhosThat We sell so many, we don’t need minor celebs to buy ours :P #TheNationEnjoyOurs :PTesco Customer Care</div><div>@UKTesco So just to clarify... every little doesn’t help?Greggs the Bakers</div><div>@GreggstheBakers It helps when we’re actually a verified account ;-) What’s it like being a nobody in the Twittersphere? ;-)Tesco Customer Care</div><div>Loving the @UKTesco @GreggstheBakers banter this Friday afternoon. Although I don’t like Yum Yums. Prefer raspberry doughnuts.Steve Mosby</div><div>@UKTesco Quite humbling, really. #Greggsbagsnothandbags :)Greggs the Bakers</div><div>@GreggstheBakers We love you guys really though :-) Got a nice little Greggs around the corner from the office #LunchTime ;-)Tesco Customer Care</div><div>@pmhtuk Both are extremely tasty #NomNomTesco Customer Care</div><div>@UKTesco Aww, we love you too. Fancy a cuppa? We’ll bring the cakes :DGreggs the Bakers</div><div>I’m glad to see that @GreggstheBakers and @UKTesco have become friends at the end of the day :’) Good days work done! ;)Ruairidh</div><div>@GreggstheBakers Yeah of course, we got a nice big Costa machine. I’ll let you in passed security, you can get a V.I.P. badge ;-)Tesco Customer Care</div>
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