Greggs on a roll as sales move ahead

● The food retailer says healthy options to staples helping growth

balanced choices like Thai Chicken soup are gaining increasingly popularity with customers, and are a step forward as the country becomes ever more health-conscious.”

Over the full year the company aims to open up to 150 shops and close up to 50, meaning a net increase of about 100.

The company said work on its supply chain investment plan is progressing with the focus on redeveloping its Leeds bakery to consolidate manufacturing of small cakes and muffins.

“Alongside this we will trial our new SAP supply chain system in two sites ahead of broader deployment next year,” Greggs said.

Shares in the retailer initially rose more than 2 per cent on what was deemed an encouraging trading statement before giving up some of their gains. They closed up 1.36 per cent at 1267p.

David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets, commented: “The bakery chain is continuing down the route of offering a more balanced menu – which has been successful. Society is more health conscious nowadays and Greggs are cashing in on it. The share price hit its highest level since January 2016, and if it exceeds 1334p, it may target the all-time high of 1369p.”