Partner Article

Breakfast boost keeps Greggs on track

BOOMING sales of bacon and sausage butties have helped keep North East bakery empire Greggs on target for its plans to open up to 60 new stores this year, the company said this morning.

The Newcastle-headquartered chain said it had sold over two million breakfasts since the February launch of its breakfast offer - bacon or sausage in a freshly baked roll.

In the 18 weeks to 8 May 2010, total sales increased by 2.6% and like-for-like sales by 0.6%, figures which were consistent with the company’s expectations of marginally positive like-for-like sales growth over the year.

Chairman Derek Netherton said: “We remain encouraged by sales from new products and have sold more than two million breakfasts to our customers since the national launch in February of our breakfast offer - bacon or sausage in a fresh, Greggs-baked roll.

“We continue to make good progress towards our strategic objectives and are on track to open a net 50 to 60 new shops and complete 120 refits this year. Our financial position remains strong and we are well placed to deliver further growth in 2010.”

Mr Netherton also said the firm had received positive feedback from its latest national TV advertising campaign, Greggs ‘The home of fresh baking’, which focuses on shop staff making sandwiches fresh by hand.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .