Bakery keeps workforce fed as six shops to open
BAKERY giant Greggs will open a further six shops in south Wales by the end of the year. Greggs, which currently has 130 outlets across Wales employing around 1,500 people, has already opened six new outlets this year with a further six outlets by the end of December, with further expansion confirmed for 2021.
Working with its long-term property advisers, Cardiff-based Cooke & Arkwright, it recently opened at a 2,000 sq ft unit on the Pant Industrial Estate in Merthyr Tydfil.
It is also investing this year in new outlets at Pinewood Court on St David’s Industrial Estate in Pengam, Blackwood; Penarth Road Retail Park, Cardiff; Western Avenue Retail Park, Cardiff; a new roadside unit in
Cardiff Road, Barry, and a new unit specifically built for Greggs on Llantarnam Business Park, Cwmbran.
Huw Thomas, director of retail and leisure at Cooke & Arkwright, said: “Greggs continue to be committed to acquiring new units across different parts of Wales despite the significant challenges of the Covid19 pandemic.
“In addition to the six new openings scheduled for between now and December, we are aiming to exchange on seven new sites to be handed over either in 2021 or 2022, once the units have been constructed.
“The unit at Pant Industrial Estate, Merthyr, is an excellent example of the different type of locations which Greggs are considering in order to broaden their market over the next 12 months.”
Stuart Hogg, of Stuart Hogg Property Consultants, who represented the landlord on the Pant Industrial Estate, Merthyr letting said: “The arrival of Greggs in this location will improve the facilities for the many local businesses and also corporate occupiers who are represented here.
“Pant Industrial Estate has always been a popular and successful location and I am sure this will be a busy outlet for Greggs. Our client was pleased to secure a strong business as a tenant.”
Cooke & Arkwright’s building surveying department conducted the pre-acquisition survey at Pant Industrial Estate on behalf of Greggs.
Greggs has continued to diversify its portfolio in locations well beyond the high streets and shopping centres.
These include, in addition to the industrial estate and trade counter locations described above, retail parks, business parks and transport hubs, as well as travel, convenience and prominent roadside locations.
Overall capital expenditure in new Welsh stores amounted to almost £2m in 2019 and created around 100 new jobs.
Cooke & Arkwright have been acting agents for Greggs for more than 25 years.