Like-for-likes up at Greggs

Greggs posted like-for-like sales up 3.3 per cent for the three weeks to December 30, with like-for-likes in the first week of 2007 continuing at a similar rate, according to the retailer.

In the second half to December 30, like-for-likes were up 0.9 per cent following a lift in sales towards the end of the year.

During the year, the company, which operates under the Greggs and Bakers Oven fascias, opened 48 shops but also closed 31. Greggs said that the higher than usual number of closures reflected a rationalisation programme of Bakers Oven in the North and in Scotland. 'This gave us a net addition of 17 units and a total of 1,336 at December 30,' said the retailer.