Bakery Chain Sees Growth with New Openings and Popular Products

  • Greggs reports growing sales
  • Total sales up 7.4% to £784m in the first 20 weeks of 2025
  • Like-for-like revenues increase by 2.9%
  • Product innovation contributes to performance with over-ice drinks range and mac & cheese launch
  • 66 new stores opened, 46 closed in the period
  • Investment programme on track with no change to cost inflation outlook (6%)
  • Self-serve food and drink trial to tackle shoplifting

Greggs, the popular bakery chain, has reported a surge in sales for the first 20 weeks of 2025, with total sales reaching £784m compared to £730m in 2024. Like-for-like revenues increased by 2.9%. The company attributes its improved performance to new store openings and innovative product launches such as the over-ice drinks range and mac & cheese, which went viral on TikTok. With 66 new stores opened and 46 closed during the period, Greggs now has 2,638 shops trading. The retailer plans to achieve 140-150 net openings for the full year. Despite a trial of self-serve food and drink behind counters to combat shoplifting, no change is expected in cost inflation (6%).

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate information about Greggs’ sales growth, new store openings, product innovation, and its plans for tackling shoplifting. However, it briefly mentions unrelated cyber attacks on other retailers at the end which may be considered as a digression.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about Greggs’ growing sales, new store openings, and product innovation, as well as its plans to tackle shoplifting. It also mentions the company’s confidence in achieving net openings for the full year. However, it briefly touches on unrelated news about other retailers facing cyber attacks which may not be directly relevant to Greggs’ performance.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses Greggs’ growing sales and new store openings, as well as its product innovation and investment programme. It does not mention any specific financial markets or companies being impacted.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: No extreme event mentioned in the text

Reported publicly: www.retailgazette.co.uk