Last summer, hundreds of people signed a petition objecting to the opening of a Gail’s in an east London neighbourhood, with several citing the bakery’s “Zionist” credentials as a reason for their opposition.
Over 1,800 people signed the petition, which claimed Walthamstow Village High Street “faces a threat to its uniqueness with the prospect of Gail’s, a large-scale bakery chain, setting up shop on it.”
The petition stated it was “protecting the unique identity of our community [and] safeguarding the soul of a beloved neighbourhood”.
But some signatories’ comments suggested it was the bakery’s Israeli roots to which they objected.
One supporter wrote on the online petition: “Love local independent bakeries and hate Zionist moguls.”
The business said in a statement released at the time: “Gail’s is a UK-based business with no specific connections to any country or government outside of the UK and does not fund Israel.”
Its most recent accounts state: “Over the year, trading was strong with the group opening 36 new retail bakeries and continuing to see healthy growth in our established locations.
“In addition, the wholesale part of the business continued to grow its large food service business, from its bakeries in London, Manchester and Bath, and due to the continued success of the brands produced and sold through several large UK supermarket businesses.
“The group continues to invest in new retail openings and will continue to expand in wider geographic areas within the UK.”
Mejia, 71, was born in Belsize Park to an English father and an Israeli mother. Her family moved to Israel when she was six months old, and she returned to London in her early twenties.