Greggs has revealed its plans for a new distribution centre to support its ‘ambitious expansion’

Assuming the plans win approval, the new centre in Kettering, Northants, in partnership with logistics developer Tritax Symmetry, will be operational in the first half of 2027.

The planning application is for 311,551 sq ft of space that will help Greggs supply a store network that is expected to rise from 2,500 now to 3,000, “requiring investment in significant supply chain capacity”. The centre will directly supply ambient and chilled products.

Tritax Symmetry also wants planning permission for a further 100,000 sq ft “to enable Greggs to expand the site further”.  

Greggs has been a strong retail performer. In May, it reported like-for-like growth of 7.4% in the first 19 weeks of 2024 when it said there had been “continued good progress across all channels”. The retailer has moved from its origins as a bakery chain to sell a wider range of products designed to appeal to shoppers at different times of the day.

Last month, Greggs said it will open a “state of the art” logistics and manufacturing location at SmartParc Segro in Derby, which is also to support its expansion.