Greggs - statistics & facts
As a chain predominately focused on baked goods, it comes as no surprise that Greggs knows how to cut up a pie. When looking at the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry in the United Kingdom, Greggs has certainly carved out a large slice of the market, ranking not only as the most popular dining brand in the UK in 2024 by a significant margin, but also the second strongest UK brand that year.
Indeed, between 2006 and 2023, the turnover of Greggs more than tripled, growing by nearly 300 million British pounds in 2023 alone. Playing a large role in the steady foothold Greggs has gained in the UK’s QSR sector was the introduction of the vegan sausage roll in 2019, which helped shape the perception of the company as not only cost effective, but aware of modern tastes and values. That year, the growth in sales increased to 13.5 percent, after having never exceeded eight percent between 2006 and 2018.
Despite the success of Greggs in recent years, it has not been immune to the struggles and challenges the wider QSR industry has faced, especially regarding the UK’s cost of living crisis. This was most clear to see in the 47 percent price increase for sausage rolls between 2016 and 2024. While Greggs' popularity does not look like it will suffer any time soon, any company whose bread and butter is affordable, accessible, and unassuming products will be aware of the danger posed by tipping the scales of cost and value.
Indeed, between 2006 and 2023, the turnover of Greggs more than tripled, growing by nearly 300 million British pounds in 2023 alone. Playing a large role in the steady foothold Greggs has gained in the UK’s QSR sector was the introduction of the vegan sausage roll in 2019, which helped shape the perception of the company as not only cost effective, but aware of modern tastes and values. That year, the growth in sales increased to 13.5 percent, after having never exceeded eight percent between 2006 and 2018.
How sustainable is Greggs as a company?
Alongside the vegan sausage roll, Greggs has attempted to present the image of being an environmentally conscious company by addressing the problem of food waste. Specifically, Greggs opened a slew of outlet shops in recent years, where day-old products are sold at a heavily reduced rate. For example, the price of a sandwich at a Greggs Outlet in 2023 totaled on average 1.22 British pounds. Meanwhile, a sandwich from a standard Greggs shop cost over three British pounds. When it comes to the company’s carbon footprint, there was also an overall reduction in Greggs carbon intensity per unit of revenue between 2019 and 2023, falling by 36 percent. The gross number of carbon emissions of Greggs, however, plateaued in the same period.Which place in the UK has the most Greggs?
Founded in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1939, Greggs certainly still has a strong presence in the city of its birth, with 20 shops registered there as of 2024. The cities with the most Greggs locations in the UK that year, however, were London and Glasgow, with 42 shops each. With Greggs’ expansion into the south of England, the company was able to open shops in atypical and upmarket locations such as Leicester Square and on the Strand.Despite the success of Greggs in recent years, it has not been immune to the struggles and challenges the wider QSR industry has faced, especially regarding the UK’s cost of living crisis. This was most clear to see in the 47 percent price increase for sausage rolls between 2016 and 2024. While Greggs' popularity does not look like it will suffer any time soon, any company whose bread and butter is affordable, accessible, and unassuming products will be aware of the danger posed by tipping the scales of cost and value.
