Britain’s largest bakery retailer is pressing ahead with plans to add up to 110 new outlets this year.
The plans are part of a wider ambition to grow its footprint from 2,773 shops to 3,500.
Greggs revealed on Wednesday that it has trimmed its 2026 opening target slightly, down from an earlier goal of 120 new sites.
The chain now expects to launch between 100 and 110 fresh locations before the year is out.
The company is also testing a new format called Greggs Express, with 10 trial sites offering self-service coffee and food set to open this year.
More than half of the outlets opened during the first six months of the year were situated in non-traditional locations, including petrol station forecourts, supermarket sites, retail parks, hospitals and university campuses.
Chief executive Roisin Currie said the business “remained focused” on reaching customers in new catchments and offering more convenient ways to purchase its products.
Over the longer term, the bakery giant intends to add in excess of 700 further shops to its portfolio, bringing the total estate to 3,500.
To support that growth, Greggs is continuing to invest in its distribution infrastructure at sites in Derby and Kettering.
The chain’s first-half results showed 34 new shops had been added to the estate since January, helping to push total revenue up 7.2 per cent to £1.1billion.
The bakery giant intends to add in excess of 700 further shops to its portfolio, bringing the total estate to 3,500
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PA
Pre-tax profit climbed 20 per cent to reach £76million for the period, a strong performance that came despite several heatwaves dampening demand.
Existing company-managed shops recorded like-for-like sales growth of 2.1 per cent, while franchised outlets saw a 1.3 per cent uplift.
Menu innovation played a key role in attracting new customers. A chicken roll proved to be a “standout success,” the company said, while the introduction of matcha drinks also helped to broaden its appeal.
Greggs also marked a milestone during the first half by launching its inaugural international travel hub outlet at Tenerife South Airport, operated through a new franchise arrangement with Lagardère Travel Retail.
The company indicated it would seek to establish additional sites in major transport hubs going forward.
Menu innovation played a key role in attracting new customers
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GETTY
Ms Currie said: “We are making great progress in building the supply chain infrastructure that will support the significant growth opportunities that lie ahead. The board’s expectations for the full-year outcome are unchanged.”
She added that the business was focused on “broadening and innovating our menu in line with changing tastes and trends.”
Shares in Greggs jumped 11.54 per cent, or 195p, to 1,885p on Wednesday morning, lifting the stock to its highest point in twelve months.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, said: “Greggs has rallied to its highest level in a year as it lays out ambitious plans to cement its dominance of the British retail space.”
The bakery chain revealed that total sales topped £1.1billion
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GB NEWSHe added that the company “has been able to find further cost savings to help drive the group forward to its lofty goal of 3,500 outlets.”
The retailer said its cost inflation forecast for the year had eased to 2.2 per cent, though “some uncertainty remains.”
It cautioned that investment in additional supply-chain capacity could weigh on second-half profits unless consumer conditions strengthen.