Greggs has reported a rise in sales for the first half of 2026, attributing its resilience during hot weather to menu adaptations including iced drinks and salads. The bakery chain, which now operates 2,773 shops, said total sales reached £1.1 billion for the 26 weeks to June 27, a 7.2% increase year-on-year.
Heatwave-Proof Menu
Chief executive Roisin Currie told the Press Association: “You do see that when temperatures get above 30 degrees that people start to eat less. We’ve been much more resilient this year than previously because we learned some lessons.”
Greggs introduced products such as iced matcha lattes, a chicken roll launched in April, and an expanded salad range with higher protein and clearer nutritional labelling. A blueberry matcha iced latte aimed at younger consumers was also added.
“We had also just launched, before the heatwave started to hit, a new range of salads, with some favourites in there but also some new products such as our prawn-layered pasta salad and our chicken caesar along with our grains and green salad,” Ms Currie said. “The timing of those was great and they have sold well.”
Customers also bought fruit pots, yoghurts, wraps, and picnic items like ambient sausage rolls. However, Ms Currie noted: “But the customer also wants that indulgent treat every so often. So we do still see that while health is very important, actually indulgence is also a trend that’s out there – customers want that sweet treat, not every day but when they want to treat themselves.”
Financial Performance
Pre-tax profit jumped by a fifth to £76 million for the half-year, partly due to the launch of a “bake at home” frozen range in Tesco and continued cost control amid energy and food inflation. Like-for-like sales at company-managed shops rose 2.1%, and 1.3% at franchised shops.
The update sent Greggs shares up more than 15% on Wednesday. Cost inflation for the first half was 2.2%, lower than the 3% anticipated in April. Ms Currie said: “The volatility of the Middle East and the impact on energy prices probably plays into what may happen towards the back end of this year and into 2027. One of the key costs that we’ve got is wages, so that does hit us because that is an inflationary environment.”
However, costs for ingredients like coffee and cocoa that spiked last year have started to fall. Ms Currie stressed no further price rises are planned after breakfast, lunch and “big” deals increased in May. “Our prices are in a good place and we will now be working hard to protect the consumer and making sure that we can offer that value throughout the rest of the year,” she said.
Expansion Plans
Greggs expects 100 to 110 net new openings in 2026, many in locations where it is “underrepresented,” such as travel hubs, retail parks, roadsides and industrial parks. The long-term target is at least 3,500 UK shops. A trial of Greggs Express self-service units in petrol stations is underway, with 10 expected by year-end.
