At a glance
• Independent cafés in Crystal Palace, led by Brown & Green, are protesting at plans for a new Gail’s bakery, fearing the chain’s arrival will threaten their survival and dominate local trade.
• A viral Instagram post from Brown & Green highlighted the financial struggles of small cafés, urging customers to support independents over large corporate brands.
• Despite previous local opposition in other areas, Gail’s continues its rapid growth, with over 100 London branches and plans to expand from 180 to 300 UK-wide.