Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[BuhSnarf]

Bean-to-cup can make good coffee, I definitely wouldn't say Greggs make good bean-to-cup coffee though. McDonald's isn't too bad, mind.

 

[jon81uk]

I don't know but I feel like they may be working some kind of scam. I ordered something to be delivered by Evri. Bur I got one of those "the sender didn't pay enough postage" cards through the door. I had to go to the post depot, which opens now for just one hour per day. I had to pay before they'd show me the parcel. It had a fully paid Evri postage label. When I complained they claimed that it was given to the Royal mail to deliver and they hadn't been paid for it, Evri had, so that's why I had to pay.

Sounds like the sender was incompetent, doesn't' look like the fault of Royal Mail? If the sender is an eBay seller and just printed off the label and threw it into a postbox then its not in Evri's system. If the sender bought postage at the Post Office but the Post Office worker put it in a Royal Mail bag instead of an Evri one then its the Post Office worker who was incompentent. I'd be contacting the seller for a refund either way as it is not Royal Mail who made the error.

That's awful of Royal Mail, but consistent with their approach - recipient pays if the sender hasn't done so properly. From what they've said in the past, though, I'm surprised that they let the postage into the system underpaid - that's part of what their tracking's designed to deal with, as they certainly used to be significantly underpaid by commercial customers.

I'd suggest complaining to both Royal Mail (should have pursued Evri) and Evri (why underpaying Royal Mail) to get the postage back, plus something for the hassle in going to the delivery office.

Royal Mail may not have been able to stop it entering the system until it is already at the sorting office, if its in a postbox, locker or bag of parcels they can't hand it back to the sender so collecting the postage from the recipient is the only solution. other than return to sender.
The seller is the person the recipeint has the contract with, so the complaint should be directed at them, then if it wasn't their own error they need to pursue Evri for the money.

 

[Dave61]

Whilst I agree that the decor was starting to bore me, and the shops often feel darker than they used to, I still prefer their coffee to that of Starbucks and find the quality of food & drink consistent across all their outlets. I do get irritated with both Costa & Starbucks if I am eating/drinking 'in' and they serve me using disposable cups etc - that seems to be becoming more common. If I am 'in' then I am generally there for a break from whatever I am doing and want proper cutlery and crockery. The prices do seem to be going up as well, but I still prefer Costa to Greggs for hot drinks.

I hate to say this but my wife and myself both prefer McDonalds coffee to either Costa or Starbucks - but then again we are probably not that fussy about our coffee as long as we like it!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Bean-to-cup can make good coffee, I definitely wouldn't say Greggs make good bean-to-cup coffee though. McDonald's isn't too bad, mind.

In discussing them on this particular thread, are we really suggesting that the likes of Greggs and McDonald's are examples of companies that are expected to disappear soon?

 

[BuhSnarf]

In discussing them on this particular thread, are we really suggesting that the likes of Greggs and McDonald's are examples of companies that are expected to disappear soon?

I don't think so - I was merely pointing out that bean to cup can be okay and gave an example of a bad one and good one

 

[35B]

It's sad to see how things are playing out.

The Royal Mail had the opportunity to modernise and take on the other delivery firms, with the huge benefit of lots of postal workers that really know their routes and have often remained on specific routes for their whole careers.

They could offer services to the likes of Amazon and by all means act as a hub for other parcels through their counters and lockers.

But it seems more like they're happy to actually use the services of the likes of Evri for the last mile deliveries (which seems self-defeating) and the co-branded vans don't sit right with me given the poor treatment of staff who work for Evri, and the known hatred of the company because of how many parcels don't get delivered properly, or are damaged, or go missing entirely - with AI bots doing nothing but try and stop you being able to complain.

Why would anyone want to try and emulate that? Well, obviously it's money. And the race to the bottom really could spell the end of the Royal Mail, although I suspect that in the position they are, they'll end up with the Government having to bail them out in some way.

Views about the constraints on Royal Mail as it has tried to modernise vary. The willingness of staff to change working practices to support necessary cost savings, and the ability of management to do so effectively, are both parts of the story

 

[jon0844]

Views about the constraints on Royal Mail as it has tried to modernise vary. The willingness of staff to change working practices to support necessary cost savings, and the ability of management to do so effectively, are both parts of the story

I have no doubt it isn't as black and white as it might seem from the outside - but there are quite a lot of Royal Mail staff willing to be quite vocal about changes.

 

[sprunt]

While I'm no fan of private equity companies in general, it's unfair to blame the plight of TG Jones stores on them - they bought them saying they wouldn't close any for the first 12 months, and it's a shame that they're going to do so now but the non-travel arm of WH Smith was already a basket case before they bought it and it's likely that if hadn't been bought all the high street WH Smiths would have closed down a year ago.

 

[Bletchleyite]

While I'm no fan of private equity companies in general, it's unfair to blame the plight of TG Jones stores on them

It's completely fair. They are pursuing a bare-minimum, asset-stripping-style policy. They are making no attempt to grow the business as they could have done.

 

[SuspectUsual]

While I'm no fan of private equity companies in general, it's unfair to blame the plight of TG Jones stores on them - they bought them saying they wouldn't close any for the first 12 months, and it's a shame that they're going to do so now but the non-travel arm of WH Smith was already a basket case before they bought it and it's likely that if hadn't been bought all the high street WH Smiths would have closed down a year ago.

Buying a failing business and doing precisely nothing to try and change it makes them absolutely culpable in my book *




* Book not purchased from TG Jones

 

[LucyP]

It's completely fair. They are pursuing a bare-minimum, asset-stripping-style policy. They are making no attempt to grow the business as they could have done.

How can TG Jones be grown in your opinion? What is there that they or WHS before them have not tried which would work?

 

[Backroom_boy]

Buying a failing business and doing precisely nothing to try and change it makes them absolutely culpable in my book

Yes which makes me think they will rebrand and relaunch the ~350 remaining shops once they have restructured; probably didn't want to waste effort and tarnish the brand on shops that were shutting.


Edit. Just read the Guardian article about this. Insurers have suspended cover for TG Jones suppliers so they are ina much worse position than I thought. I think 350 shops remaining will be optomistic

 

[johntea]

If you think TG Jones is an odd brand I’ve just read the Junction 32 shopping centre (or as the locals still call it Freeport!) in Castleford has just been rebranded ‘Frasersplus Designer Outlet Leeds’

Only 15 miles out! They might have got away with ‘Wakefield’ at a stretch

Even more peculiar is they use the name ‘Frasers Plus’ as their buy now pay later operation too!

 

[cactustwirly]

It's completely fair. They are pursuing a bare-minimum, asset-stripping-style policy. They are making no attempt to grow the business as they could have done.

I think you're being very naive, the store closures would have happened regardless of owners.
They need to invest to grow the business and they need to get rid of the deadwood first

 

[Russel]

Whereas I think places like Costa are pricing themselves out of the market (not just coffees, a bun or a toastie can be £4 each now), I hardly think they will be a ‘company disappearing soon’

I’m not sure Greggs is exactly the same market, Costa coffees are made by a barista, in Greggs they just put a paper cup under a machine and press a button. Both are right for different occasions.

The upside to a bean to cup machine is a greater level of consistency, while not the best coffee, I can't actually recall a bad cup from Greggs, whereas barista made on the other hand...

 

[Nym]

The upside to a bean to cup machine is a greater level of consistency, while not the best coffee, I can't actually recall a bad cup from Greggs, whereas barista made on the other hand...

They're both subject to the quality of cleaning, and given what I've seen the likes of Costa do with their portafilter knock out and cleaning, I'll take a mediocre bean to cup any day over that.

Of course Starbucks does combine that with an auto-portafilter on their machines.

The lack of training and apathy of Costa staff in making a coffee is just getting to the degree that they obviously don't know what they're doing.

 

[Sonic1234]

The lack of training and apathy of Costa staff in making a coffee is just getting to the degree that they obviously don't know what they're doing.

Costa are a mix of company owned and franchised (and the franchisees range from single cafes to large chains in their own right), which adds another variable to the quality and training.

Keeping it on topic for this thread, while the Costa brand is unlikely to disappear, some of the franchisees could be at risk depending on their location(s).

 

[Andyh82]

Costa are a mix of company owned and franchised (and the franchisees range from single cafes to large chains in their own right), which adds another variable to the quality and training.

Keeping it on topic for this thread, while the Costa brand is unlikely to disappear, some of the franchisees could be at risk depending on their location(s).

Why? I’m not sure I’ve ever been in one that isn’t busy

 

[SuspectUsual]

Why? I’m not sure I’ve ever been in one that isn’t busy

Don't mistake looking busy for income. The average age of a Costa customer is higher than the other big chains and a lot of them like to spend a long time over their tea and coffee. Comfortable seats are a bad thing in the eyes of the finance people

 

[Brightonboy]

Costa are a mix of company owned and franchised (and the franchisees range from single cafes to large chains in their own right), which adds another variable to the quality and training.

Keeping it on topic for this thread, while the Costa brand is unlikely to disappear, some of the franchisees could be at risk depending on their location(s).

I am unsure who runs the Costa's in places such as hospitals, workplaces and Tesco's etc whether they are generally Costa run or franchises, but i have noticed that those which are less efficient and diligent seem to be franchise operated. Does anyone know if those at Moto services are Costa or franchise? They are generally pretty good although I find the one on the M23 at Pease Pottage somewhat disappointing.

 

[jon0844]

Don't mistake looking busy for income. The average age of a Costa customer is higher than the other big chains and a lot of them like to spend a long time over their tea and coffee. Comfortable seats are a bad thing in the eyes of the finance people

Starbucks seems to be going for more uncomfortable seating and smaller tables, presumably to stop people renting office work/reading space by those buying a coffee and staying for a couple of hours.

But if these places do try and make it less inviting for people wanting to stay, will they just leave quicker or simply not go in the first place?

While I feel takeaway coffee is now a total rip off, I'm more happy to pay that to drink in because I'm effectively buying somewhere to sit for a while. Put a literal time limit, kr make it uncomfortable so I want to leave as soon as possible and I may not go at all.

 

[Brightonboy]

Don't mistake looking busy for income. The average age of a Costa customer is higher than the other big chains and a lot of them like to spend a long time over their tea and coffee. Comfortable seats are a bad thing in the eyes of the finance people

Grrr, don't get me started on Costa users who seem to conduct their entire working day over a single coffee and the free WiFi and take up table space that those of us calling in for a genuine coffee break could use....

 

[Uncle Buck]

Grrr, don't get me started on Costa users who seem to conduct their entire working day over a single coffee and the free WiFi and take up table space that those of us calling in for a genuine coffee break could use....

There is a Costa near my house which, on the one hand, usually seems to be busy, but on the other hand, seems to be full of people on laptops.

But as with so many things, horses for courses. I am a coffee lover and a hand-made coffee from an independent shop is one of my great pleasures. But if I am on the go and just need my caffeine fix, a cheap Greggs or Macdonald’s does the trick- I actually quite like their coffee. However, if I am in a station or airport, or a big shopping centre, or in an unfamiliar town where I cannot be bothered scouting out an independent place, then I can usually rely on a chain- although I personally prefer Cafe Nero and Marks and Spencer’s to Costa or Starbucks.

By this metric I would expect the mid-range coffee shops to decline but probably not to disappear.

Really good post.

TG Jones is really Rymans with magazines, books and chocolate these days. Magazines are dying off, no serious book buyer make it their first choice destination, chocolate and sweets are better catered for elsewhere (And why are there still so many Rymans anyway?)

Thank you, that is kind. I am just reflecting on my own experience! I too find the survival of Ryman’s slightly surprising, but the one near me seems to be quite busy.

 

[Towers]

The Costa chat is interesting; big user as I enjoy the more mellow flavour of their coffee, but it’s unavoidably apparent that their food range, particularly on the cake front, is desperately stale (not literally! ). Presumably everything sells and therefore earns its place in the display cabinet, but it’s incredibly ‘safe’. Compare it with the equivalent offerings in a Nero, Coffee #1 or even Starbucks and it’s not in the same league. It seems unclear whether this is clever, intentional targeting, as they want to be the ‘McDonalds’ of the high street coffee chains, or just a lack of creativity?

The mention of baristas made me smile; often the stores are so busy that the poor sod on the machine is bashing out coffees at a rate of knots, looking utterly exasperated in the process! Lovingly made it isn’t; what it is though, is consistent.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think you're being very naive, the store closures would have happened regardless of owners.
They need to invest to grow the business and they need to get rid of the deadwood first

Store closures may have been necessary either way, but this is a death spiral. I give it a year, maybe two at most.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 May 2026 ==

Yes which makes me think they will rebrand and relaunch the ~350 remaining shops once they have restructured

I would be astonished if they did.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I think you're being very naive, the store closures would have happened regardless of owners.
They need to invest to grow the business and they need to get rid of the deadwood first

I think WH Smith just got rid of the dead wood. Almost all the dead wood is almost all of what is now called TG Jones.

What I have issues with is the way the high street WH Smiths have been dealt with, it leaves those staff with pensions in a bad way.
I can see that perhaps the non-high street WH Smiths could not survive if they had to support the pensions of the closed high street branches.
So it is about the survival of some of WH Smith. It is not about how the "highly valued" staff are dealt with (I have been highly valued twice in my working life and both times redundancies came along just a few years later).

The fact that some businesses (like Modella) seem to make money out of winding up failing businesses means even less compensation for those who committed their working life to the failed business. That I find appalling.

Perhaps with this approach getting more and more common it is time to suggest UK plc is going down the pan ?.

 

[Harpo]

Poundstretcher back in the crosshairs.

Poundstretcher will “likely have no choice” but to file for administration if a restructuring plan is not approved, the High Court has heard.

The discount retailer, which has almost 300 stores and 3,000 staff across the UK, was bought by US investment firm Fortress, which also owns Majestic Wine, in 2024 for an undisclosed sum.

Poundstretcher restructuring plan needed to avoid administration, court told - AOL

Poundstretcher will “likely have no choice” but to file for administration if a restructuring plan is not approved, the High Court has heard. The discount retailer, which has almost 300 stores and 3,000 staff across the UK, was bought by US investment firm Fortress, which also owns Majestic Wine...

www.aol.com

 

[Leyland Bus]

Poundstretcher back in the crosshairs.

Poundstretcher restructuring plan needed to avoid administration, court told - AOL

Poundstretcher will “likely have no choice” but to file for administration if a restructuring plan is not approved, the High Court has heard. The discount retailer, which has almost 300 stores and 3,000 staff across the UK, was bought by US investment firm Fortress, which also owns Majestic Wine...

www.aol.com

Genuinely thought they went long ago!!

This thread is getting more like "businesses you thought had already gone"

 

[Iskra]

Costa are a mix of company owned and franchised (and the franchisees range from single cafes to large chains in their own right), which adds another variable to the quality and training.

Keeping it on topic for this thread, while the Costa brand is unlikely to disappear, some of the franchisees could be at risk depending on their location(s).

Loads of Costa franchises are closing down. 4 or 5 in Sheffield alone in recent years. It’s a brand on the decline.

I agree about staff training at Costa, the amount of baristas that can’t even make a decent Americano is shocking. It’s a business where quality coffee stopped being the priority a long time ago.

I find Nero do a much better cup of coffee, but there aren’t as many of those around.

 

[themeone]

The coffee shop market is pretty much saturated at the moment, and I'd say Costa is in the weakest position. If it was a stand-alone business I think there'd be some rapid changes, but as it's part of Coca Cola it's to some degree sheltered, and its poor performance may even be useful to the wider company for tax purposes etc.

Costa occupies an unfortunate middle ground, neither trendy nor cheap and is therefore under pressure from both sides. I heard a Costa chief exec interviewed around a month ago, and he seemed to be banking on drive-thru expansion as a recovery plan. I don't see it myself but time will tell.

To me Costa would be better served getting their core offering right. A real problem they have is lack of consistency across branches, particularly regarding the food offering. In the middle market, where Costa is stuck, the one thing you can offer is predictability, but they don't even do that.