Greggs has opened 90 new stores so far this year, with 60 more to come.

Greggs Bucks

As of October 1, Greggs is operating 2,271 stores

Sales at the food-to-go retailer jumped 14.6% in the 13-week period to October 1, while company-managed shop like-for-like sales grew 9.7%.

The retailer said that August sales “moderated” when compared with the effects of the staycation boom last year, but momentum returned in September.

Greggs is on the way to achieving its goal of 150 new store openings this financial year – so far it has opened net 90, with 106 openings and 16 closures – bringing the total to 2,271 as of October 1.

These stores included drive-thru sites in Amesbury and Durham, and railway locations at Tottenham Hale and London’s Liverpool Street station.

Greggs has also opened a new automated pizza manufacturing line in its Enfield factory, upping its capacity.

With its autumn menu now on sale, which includes pumpkin spice lattes and new vegan options, the retailer confirmed that its full-year outlook is in line with expectations.

Greggs said in a statement that: “The outlook for cost inflation for the year remains consistent with our previous guidance of c.9% overall like-for-like cost inflation in 2022 and we now hold an appropriate level of forward-purchasing cover in respect of our fourth-quarter requirements for key food and energy commodities.  

“We also hold significant energy cover for the first quarter of 2023, with average costs expected to be below the level of the recently announced price cap.

“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.” 

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