Newcastle bakery chain Greggs has opened 106 new shops already this year and aims to go further.
The food-on-the-go firm said it was eyeing up 150 net shop openings in 2022, having closed 16 sites. Sales across the pasty maker's 2,200 sites increased by 14% over the past three months, though it said the 'staycation' trend boosted by the pandemic had led to a slow down in August and planned closures on September 19 for the Queen's funeral impacted sales by about one percentage point.
Having launched its autumn menu, Greggs said newly introduced vegan-friendly items including the 'vegan bean and cheeze toastie' and the 'vegan southern fried chicken-free baguette' had been well received. Its hot sandwich meal deal - including southern-fried potato wedges and any drink - is available in more than 1,000 shops and its pizza deal continued to be popular all day.
Read more: Newcastle Clean Air Zone cameras switched on – but signs are 'confusing' for drivers
Around 40% of the new Greggs shops will be run by the kind of franchise partners that have allowed the North East name to expand into sites such as motorway services, petrol stations and smaller convenience stores. Among the shop openings this year are new formats such as drive-thru sites at Amesbury and Durham, as well as Tottenham Hale underground station and London's Liverpool Street Station.
In September, the retailer launched a new automated pizza making line at its Enfield factory in a bid to lower production costs. It said the move would support growth of its pizza offer.
Despite substantial cost inflation being felt by many businesses including retailers, Greggs said it had planned for food and energy requirements going into the final few months of the year and into early 2023. In the update to its investors, the firm said: "Greggs continues to trade well in an environment where cost pressures are significant and our outstanding value-for-money positioning is ever-more important to consumers. There remains considerable uncertainty in the economy as a whole but we continue to trade in line with our plan and currently expect the full year outcome to be in line with our previous expectations."
READ NEXT:
- Eldon Square value plummets again – but 'five offers' to take over empty Debenhams store revealed
- Newcastle Building Society pulls all its mortgage deals after UK economy plunged into turmoil
-
Newcastle's Thali Tray to close as lease expires at popular Ouseburn home
-
Stags and hens can take on real-life Squid Game challenge in Newcastle's Bigg Market
- Newcastle Restaurant Week gives £1.5m boost to city after hungry Geordies snap up tasty deals
