Major bakery chain to close store – but it plans to have more than 3,000 shops

A POPULAR bakery chain is set to shut down its “super friendly” store amid plans to have more than 3,000 shops.

Greggs is pulling the shutters down on one of its location in Dewsbury but it’s not all bad news.

The bakery chain has confirmed that its store on Foundry street in Dewsbury will be closing down.

The shop has reached the end of its lease which the company has decided not to renew.

But not all hope is lost as Greggs has reassured that the outlet will continue operating from a different location.

Shoppers can still snap up their favourite sausage rolls from another shop just minutes away.

A Greggs spokesperson said: “Shop has reached the end of the lease on 22nd June and we are choosing not to renew due to another Greggs shop in Dewsbury being in walking distance and more central to the town.

“All staff are being relocated to either existing shops or a new shop we have opening in Birstall towards the end of the month.

“This all forms as part of our estate development as we opened 220 new shops last year and are on a journey to have more than 3,000 shops.”

Greggs has earlier announced its plans to open between 140 and 160 new shops in 2024 as part of its expansion.

Greggs said the first 19 weeks of 2024 had seen it open 64 shops and close 37 – a net opening of 27.

The bakery chain is aiming to give customers more convenient access to its stores.

It will continue to look at expanding across retail parks, travel sites and roadside locations, as well as industrial estates.

New branches have opened at Embankment train station in London, four inside Tesco supermarkets and three inside Sainsbury’s.

The chain said it was now operating across a whopping 2,500 shops and its new over-ice drinks range was also selling well.

Opening stores is not the only move Greggs is making across the high street and in retail parks.

It is also continuing to roll out evening opening hours across some of its stores.

These extended hours are currently available in around 1,200 shops.

Greggs is also building two new sites in the Midlands to increase its manufacturing and supply chain capacity.

The chain posted a 7.4% rise in like-for-like sales in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same three months in 2023.

In March, record profits meant the chain shared its biggest payday with staff, with a £17.6million bonus pot shared between 25,000 employees.

That means the average worker received £765 amid the cost of living crisis.

Roisin Currie, chief executive of Greggs said: “We enter 2024 with plans to continue to invest in our shops and expand supply chain capacity.”

Ms Curries also said she has “no plans currently” to increase prices across its ranges.

OTHER GREGGS NEWS

Greggs is also planning to open six more outlet stores in the UK this year, The Sun can reveal.

The bakery giant currently has 35 shops open across the UK and hopes to have 50 by the end of 2025.

It comes as The Sun exclusively revealed a little-known Greggs pizza meal deal hack that can save shoppers cash.

Greggs outlets stock some of the chain’s most popular items including the much-loved sausage roll – but the prices are up to 75% cheaper.

Last month, it revealed a major menu shake-up with six new items being added – including a returning favourite.

Back on menus is the chicken pesto flatbread, spicy Mexican bean flatbread and cherry bakewell muffin.

There’s also an apple and strawberry fruit pot, vegan Mexican chicken-free bake and vegetable bake to pick from.

Greggs was founded by John Gregg in 1939, opening its first shop in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne in 1951.

It currently operates more than 2,500 locations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.