PROFITS UP... VEGAN TO GO!

Greggs outlets are to stay open later after soaring demand for vegan sausage rolls helped to boost profits. The bakery chain said it would “accelerate” the number of stores kept open after 6pm, and focus on hot food such as potato wedges and chicken goujons.

Chief executive Roger Whiteside said: “At the moment we keep stores in railway stations and those near to sporting events or nightclubs open at night, but we want to do more.”

Greggs, with 1,969 shops, said total sales climbed 15.1% in the first 19 weeks of the year with samestore sales up 11.1%. It expects to post higher than expected sales and profits for the whole year.

“We launched our vegan sausage roll in January and demand for it and more awareness around our brand has led to more customers coming in,” Whiteside revealed.