Greggs has halted plans to reopen 20 stores next week over fears it will attract crowds.
The high street bakery temporarily shut its 2,050 branches last month after the UK entered lockdown and non-essential shops were ordered to shut.
But the vegan steak bake chain was due to reopen branches around Newcastle from Monday to test if they could operate in line with social distancing rules.
Bosses had planned to re-open 700 more joints on June 8 if the trial was successful and the Government relaxed the curbs.
Now the sausage roll supplier has reversed the move, admitting “the risk that excessive numbers of customers” could descend on stores was too great.
A Greggs spokesperson said: "Due to significant interest in our 20-shop trial, and the risk that excessive numbers of customers may plan to visit Greggs, we will now initially operate these trials behind closed doors in order to effectively test our new operational safety measures.
"We will continue to review this and will invite walk-in customers into our shops only when we can be confident of doing so in the controlled manner we intended."
It follows McDonald’s’ decision to backtrack on reopening a branch earlier this week.
The burger chain said it is "exploring social distancing measures for our crew, PPE options and opening in a limited capacity” and will only open when “absolutely confident” it is safe.
KFC has resumed takeaway and delivery services at 20 stores and plans to reopen 80 next week, while Burger King and Pret A Manger have followed suit with several outlets.
