Greggs has reported a strong half-year performance, with total sales exceeding £1.1 billion for the 26 weeks to June 27, a 7.2% increase compared to the same period last year. The bakery chain attributed much of the growth to menu expansions that attracted health-conscious consumers and capitalized on heatwave weather.
Sales and profit growth
The sales boost was largely driven by the opening of 34 net new shops. Strip out that impact, and sales at company-managed shops rose 2.1% year-on-year, while franchised outlets saw a 1.3% increase. Pre-tax profit climbed by a fifth to £76 million during the half-year period.
Menu innovations
Greggs said that following consumer food trends helped draw in new customers. Products like iced matcha lattes and the chicken roll – launched in April as an alternative to the sausage and vegan rolls – proved popular. The company also expanded its salad range with new and reformulated recipes designed to offer more protein, and improved nutritional labelling to appeal to health-focused shoppers.
Expansion plans
At the end of June, Greggs operated 2,773 shops. It expects to open a net 100 to 110 new shops throughout 2026, many in locations where no Greggs currently exists within a mile. Additionally, it plans to trial 10 Greggs Express convenience stores, a self-service format with a smaller product range.
Chief executive Roisin Currie said: “We remain focused on opening shops in more catchments and introducing convenient ways for customers to pick up Greggs favourites, while broadening and innovating our menu in line with changing tastes and trends.”
