Latest news with #MacandCheese
Business Mayor
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Greggs boosted by warm weather and viral TikTok campaign, chief says
Unlock the Editor's Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Greggs' boss has expressed confidence that the British bakery and fast-food chain will sustain an improvement in sales growth after being boosted by warm spring weather and a viral social media campaign for its new Mac and Cheese dish. The maker of pasties and sausage rolls reported a 2.9 per cent increase in like-for-like sales in the first 20 weeks of the year, pushing its shares up almost 9 per cent amid optimism about a rebound in UK consumer spending. Sales growth improved from a modest 1.7 per cent increase in the first nine weeks, when Greggs had to contend with a 'tough' economic backdrop as consumers faced a cost of living crisis. It was also hit by rises in national insurance contributions and the minimum wage. Roisin Currie, chief executive of Greggs, said warm spring weather had encouraged people to go out shopping and that it felt like sentiment was improving even as consumers remained cautious. 'Customers are still nervous. [But] early spring has got people out and about for shopping,' she told the Financial Times. 'The consumer goes out more, whether that's to the high streets, to the retail parks, [or] to buy spring clothes,' she said. Shares in Greggs gained as much as 8.9 per cent on Tuesday to reach their highest level since February. 'It feels as if everything is improving,' Currie said. The Newcastle-based company said growth was being supported by the expansion of its menu, such as the introduction of Mac and Cheese, chicken burgers and fish finger sandwiches, as well as longer trading hours. Read More With Soaring Returns, Do Retailers Need A Chief Returns Officer? In addition to new recipes for sandwiches, customers have been especially keen on the new macaroni cheese dish, which went viral on TikTok, Currie said. 'We launched Mac and Cheese earlier this year, and our customers are loving it. So we are trying to roll that product out at pace just now,' she said, adding that the Greggs' product team had spotted its Korean-style slaw trending on social media. But some analysts remained cautious. Analysts at Barclays said in a note that Greggs had benefited from better weather together with its peers, and that 'this is not a trend we would like to chase too hard'. Clive Black, from Shore Capital, said he would 'welcome a step back' in the company's capital expenditure.
Leader Live
20-05-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Greggs sales pick up amid boost from ‘viral' mac and cheese
The high street bakery chain said it has also benefited from 'better trading conditions' as growth accelerated following a slower start to the year. Greggs said that new products are 'playing its part' in stronger sales, reporting that its new peach iced tea and mint lemonade drinks are 'performing well'. It added that hot food items are also popular, with strong sales of its fried chicken goujons, pizza boxes and potato wedges. The retailer's recently launched Mac and Cheese has also sold well after going 'viral on TikTok' earlier this year, with Greggs rolling it out to all stores last month as a result. The company, which runs 2,638 shops, said total sales rose by 7.4% to £784 million for the first 20 weeks of 2025. Like-for-like sales grew by 2.9% over the period on the back of stronger trading over the past 11 weeks, while overall sales were also supported by new shops. The chain opened 66 new stores over the period, although it significantly offset these by closing 46 stores – which included 21 relocations. Boss Roisin Currie said it is part of the company's strategy to open larger stores, shutting some smaller high street stores down as a result. She said the group's expanded range of products, click and collect and delivery service means some of its traditional shops are not fit for purpose. Greggs said it is still confident that it can grow its estate by between 140 and 150 net stores this year. The update came as Greggs continues to battle rising shoplifting across its shops, with the business confirming earlier this week that it has put sandwiches and drinks behind counters in some of its stores as a deterrent. The bakery chain typically displays the items in self-service fridges but has ditched this in at least five stores due to a spate of thefts. Ms Currie told the PA news agency that there is a 'significant' cost caused by thefts in some areas, driving the company to launch security initiatives, which also include body-worn cameras.
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Greggs' sales growth picks-up in first half of year
UK baker and fast food chain Greggs reported sales growth picking up as the year progressed, helped by better trading conditions, including warmer weather, sending its battered shares higher. Shares in Greggs, known for its sausage rolls, steak bakes, vegan alternatives and sweet treats, were up 6.5% today, paring 2025 losses to 24%, after it said like-for-like sales had risen 2.9% in the first 20 weeks of the year. That compares with growth of 1.7% in the first nine weeks which Greggs had said reflected a tough economic backdrop. The improvement was consistent with wider developments in the British economy. Industry data published last week showed British shoppers overcame their worries about a global trade war and sharply increased their spending in April with Easter and sunny weather boosting sales of food, gardening equipment and clothing. "We're still cautious about the future but feeling slightly more optimistic," Greggs CEO Roisin Currie told Reuters in an interview. She said while the spell of warm weather and April's hike in the national minimum wage had helped recent trading, UK consumers remained nervous about spending in a still inflationary environment. "I don't think it's a cost of living crisis anymore but it's still a squeeze for certain populations; they are just being careful with their money," she said. Currie also noted that the UK's overall food-to-go market was seeing a slight contraction, while Greggs was still seeing volume declines. Greggs, which has more stores than McDonald's in the UK, opened 20 net new stores over the 20 weeks, bringing its total to 2,638. Ultimately it sees scope for over 4,500. The new stores helped drive a 7.4% rise in total sales to £784m. Growth is also being supported by the expansion of Greggs' menu, such as the introduction of Mac and Cheese, chicken burgers and fish finger sandwiches, longer opening hours into the evening, increased delivery sales through Just Eat and Uber Eats and building loyalty with the Greggs App. Last week, Greggs raised prices on some products by up to 10 pence after a round of increases in January. It maintained its outlook for annual cost inflation at 6% on a like-for-like basis. In March, Greggs had forecast another "year of progress" after reporting an underlying pretax profit of £190m for 2024.
South Wales Guardian
20-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Greggs sales pick up amid boost from ‘viral' mac and cheese
The high street bakery chain said it has also benefited from 'better trading conditions' as growth accelerated following a slower start to the year. Greggs said that new products are 'playing its part' in stronger sales, reporting that its new peach iced tea and mint lemonade drinks are 'performing well'. It added that hot food items are also popular, with strong sales of its fried chicken goujons, pizza boxes and potato wedges. The retailer's recently launched Mac and Cheese has also sold well after going 'viral on TikTok' earlier this year, with Greggs rolling it out to all stores last month as a result. The company, which runs 2,638 shops, said total sales rose by 7.4% to £784 million for the first 20 weeks of 2025. Like-for-like sales grew by 2.9% over the period on the back of stronger trading over the past 11 weeks, while overall sales were also supported by new shops. The chain opened 66 new stores over the period, although it significantly offset these by closing 46 stores – which included 21 relocations. Boss Roisin Currie said it is part of the company's strategy to open larger stores, shutting some smaller high street stores down as a result. She said the group's expanded range of products, click and collect and delivery service means some of its traditional shops are not fit for purpose. Greggs said it is still confident that it can grow its estate by between 140 and 150 net stores this year. The update came as Greggs continues to battle rising shoplifting across its shops, with the business confirming earlier this week that it has put sandwiches and drinks behind counters in some of its stores as a deterrent. The bakery chain typically displays the items in self-service fridges but has ditched this in at least five stores due to a spate of thefts. Ms Currie told the PA news agency that there is a 'significant' cost caused by thefts in some areas, driving the company to launch security initiatives, which also include body-worn cameras.
South Wales Argus
20-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Greggs sales pick up amid boost from ‘viral' mac and cheese
The high street bakery chain said it has also benefited from 'better trading conditions' as growth accelerated following a slower start to the year. Greggs said that new products are 'playing its part' in stronger sales, reporting that its new peach iced tea and mint lemonade drinks are 'performing well'. It added that hot food items are also popular, with strong sales of its fried chicken goujons, pizza boxes and potato wedges. Greggs opened 66 stores in recent months but also shut a raft of sites (Jonathan Brady/PA) The retailer's recently launched Mac and Cheese has also sold well after going 'viral on TikTok' earlier this year, with Greggs rolling it out to all stores last month as a result. The company, which runs 2,638 shops, said total sales rose by 7.4% to £784 million for the first 20 weeks of 2025. Like-for-like sales grew by 2.9% over the period on the back of stronger trading over the past 11 weeks, while overall sales were also supported by new shops. The chain opened 66 new stores over the period, although it significantly offset these by closing 46 stores – which included 21 relocations. Boss Roisin Currie said it is part of the company's strategy to open larger stores, shutting some smaller high street stores down as a result. She said the group's expanded range of products, click and collect and delivery service means some of its traditional shops are not fit for purpose. Greggs said it is still confident that it can grow its estate by between 140 and 150 net stores this year. The update came as Greggs continues to battle rising shoplifting across its shops, with the business confirming earlier this week that it has put sandwiches and drinks behind counters in some of its stores as a deterrent. The bakery chain typically displays the items in self-service fridges but has ditched this in at least five stores due to a spate of thefts. Ms Currie told the PA news agency that there is a 'significant' cost caused by thefts in some areas, driving the company to launch security initiatives, which also include body-worn cameras.
