1,950-strong bakery chain reports “exceptional” start to the year following publicity around new menu item
Greggs raises pre-tax profit forecast to £86m after rich run of form
Food-to-go retailer buoyed by recent improvement in trading and successful cost control actions
Expanding bakery chain cites mixers as its magic ingredient
Fast-growing UK bakery chain, The Hummingbird Bakery, has described the difference that having access to high quality food preparation equipment makes to its business. The company, which is about to open its seventh UK site in Guildford, relies on the latest Hobart planetary mixers to create the authentic American-style cupcakes, layer cakes, brownies, pies and…
Greggs on target to meet ambitious growth plans
Greggs has seen sales increase 3.6% like-for-like so far this year and is expecting to meet its growth targets, having already opened 42 new shops – but it remains cautious as a slowing in consumer spending means its sales outlook for H2 is far from guaranteed. A strong start to the year has seen the…
Tim Hortons gears up for entry into UK QSR market
Quick service coffee house Tim Hortons, one of Canada’s largest foodservice operators, has reiterated its intentions for a nationwide roll-out of UK sites. Opening its first UK site next month in Glasgow, Tim Hortons held a special launch event yesterday where, speaking to FEJ, chief marketing officer, Neil Littler, said “expansion is key”. The brand…
Greggs lines up another 150 shop openings in 2017
Greggs said today that it is lining up 140 to 150 new shops in 2017 in a sign that it is pushing ahead with its ambitious growth targets. Although CEO Roger Whiteside said the consumer outlook was “more challenging” than it had seen in recent years, the bakery chain sees opportunities to increase its estate…
First ‘healthy’ Greggs opens but you can still get a sausage roll
Greggs has launched its first-of-a-kind ‘healthier shop format’ at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton. The Greggs bakery at the hospital was famously revealed as one of the busiest in the country at one time, but bosses at the chain this week converted it into the healthiest in the UK. The shop is the first Greggs…
Cafe chain adapts menu for NHS hospital branches
Food service chain Muffin Break has begun introducing healthier food options and promotions at its stores based in the University Hospital Lewisham and Whittington Hospital following the NHS announcement earlier this year to impose a 20% ‘sugar tax’ in hospital cafes by 2020. The artisan bakery has shown its support for the CQUIN initiative by…
British network of Muffin Break stores bulges towards 60 sites
Muffin Break has opened its 59th UK store at The Mall Blackburn shopping centre, and says that it continues to look for additional franchisees to expand its network. The chain, originally from Australia, puts fresh baking on site at the heart of a retail strategy that it feels can be replicated across the world. It currently…
Greggs grows to 1,730 stores during prolific first half
The number of Greggs stores operating in the UK grew to 1,730 during the first half of the year as the bakery chain completed 68 launches, including 31 franchise units. The net gain was smaller than it looks as the company also closed 36 shops in the same period, but it takes nothing away from…
