Business

Healthy eating range boosts Greggs sales

Revenues at high street bakery chain Greggs rose 6 per cent in the first half of this year
Revenues at high street bakery chain Greggs rose 6 per cent in the first half of this year Revenues at high street bakery chain Greggs rose 6 per cent in the first half of this year

FALAFEL and hummus helped power sales at Greggs in the first half of the year, with the sausage roll-maker reaping the rewards of a wider range of healthy eating options.

Revenues were up 6 per cent to £422 million while like-for-like sales in the period rose 3.8 per cent, driven by the baker's Balanced Choice menu, which also includes teriyaki chicken noodle salad.

Chief executive Roger Whiteside said Greggs is "alert" to any potential change in consumer sentiment over the coming months.

"We have made an encouraging start to the second half of the year and are alert to any change in consumer demand that may result from the current economic uncertainty.

"Overall, we expect to deliver full-year growth in line with our previous expectations as well as further progress against our strategic plan," he said.

Pre-tax profits for the first six months of the year were broadly flat, coming in at £25.3 million, held down by exceptional charges linked to the closure of three bakery sites.

In May food-on-the-go-retailer Greggs opened its first city centre shop on Belfast’s Royal Avenue creating 15 jobs.

That followed the recent opening of Greggs’ first company-managed shop in Boucher Retail Park in March.

The Royal Avenue shop layout is designed to meet the demands of busy shoppers and the city centre workforce, offering customers a contemporary food-on-the-go experience.