The Cheesy Toast Stack, a popular sandwich shop in St Andrews, has introduced a unique countermeasure against an unusual problem: seagull theft. Dubbed ‘seagull insurance’, this initiative gives customers the option to pay an additional £1 to safeguard their purchase against aerial bandits.
Angry seagull with open beak
Sam Larg, the founder of The Cheesy Toast Stack, spoke to The Telegraph about the challenges his business faces with the increasing boldness of local seagulls. During the peak summer months, the problem of these birds swooping down to snatch customers’ food has intensified. “Replacing up to 10 sandwiches a day has pushed us to think innovatively about solutions,” Larg commented. With 10 years in business, this summer has been notably problematic, marked by frequent disturbances from the birds.
The new insurance scheme was conceived as a way to manage the financial burden of providing free replacements for stolen food. Larg expressed his concern about the sustainability of their previous approach: “It always felt cold-hearted to turn down a customer for a replacement, but continuously offering free meals is becoming untenable for our business.”
The insurance option is not just a business move but also carries a community spirit. Larg plans to donate any profits from the insurance at the end of the season to local entities, such as the football club and charities. This gesture aims to support community initiatives while addressing the shop’s operational challenges.
The background to this peculiar issue was highlighted by recent research from Emma Inzani of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter’s Penryn Campus. Her study on seagull behaviour indicates that while these birds do occasionally steal human food, they show a natural preference for their traditional diet of fish, such as mackerel and sprat. Inzani suggests that reduced fish availability in UK waters might be driving the gulls to adapt to more urban food sources. “Although urban foods are more accessible, seagulls still choose fish whenever possible, which is less energy-consuming than scavenging in urban areas,” she explained.