Greggs says it will create up to 600 new jobs with the opening of a new site in the Midlands that is part of its plans to have more than 3,000 UK shops.
The Newcastle food-on-the-go chain has taken a lease on a 23-acre site at SmartParc in Derby where it is planning to have a new food manufacturing unit. The site is expected to open in late 2026 and create up to 600 jobs.
Greggs recently announced plans to open around 150 new shops this year, with the aim of growing its UK estate from 2,500 to 3,000 shops. The new factory in Derby will be fitted out with state-of-the-art manufacturing and logistics equipment so that it can produce both savoury and sweet items with maximum efficiency. The facility will also be equipped with logistics for frozen storage and robotic shop order picking and distribution equipment.
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And with Greggs having pledged to be as environmentally-friendly as possible in its operations, the site has been designed with a shared energy centre that recycles heat from refrigeration plants across the estate, a rainwater harvesting system, solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and bike storage.
Greggs chief executive Roisin Currie said: “We are delighted to announce our new state-of-the-art facility at SmartParc SEGRO Derby. This purpose-built site offers significant flexibility to add new capabilities and lines as our business evolves. This is a significant step in our supply chain investment and will provide much-needed manufacturing and logistics support to power our ambitious growth plans.”
Jackie Wild, CEO at SmartParc said: “It is our ultimate vision that SmartParc SEGRO Derby becomes a hub for forward-thinking food businesses seeking sustainable and efficient operations, a collaborative work space and a first-class location with excellent connectivity, whilst also putting their people first. Greggs embodies this approach and we are immensely proud to welcome such a cherished food business to the site.”
Last month Greggs said it had made a good start to 2024 with sales increasing 13.8% and 27 new shops opening. Openings included a site at the Embankment underground station in London and locations within Tesco and Sainsbury’s supermarkets, while work to add a fourth production line at its site at Balliol Park in Newcastle, close to its headquarters, will increase production capacity at the site by 35%.
It added that a new range of iced drinks had performed well and would be rolled out to hundreds more stores, and also highlighted the popularity of pizza boxes and some of its healthier food choices.