Greggs has seen increased growth in the use of its app by customers, with more than a quarter (25.7%) of company-managed customer transactions scanned as part of its loyalty programme in the first half of 2025. It compares to 18.3% in the first half of 2024. Customers who engage with the app are proven to shop more frequently.
It comes as the company reports first-half sales up by 7% to £1,027m. Pre-tax profit dropped, however, down from £74.1m in the first half of 2024 to £63.5m for the 26 weeks ended 28 June.
Greggs will trial a new ‘bitesize Greggs’ format later this year, which aims to improve the frequency of purchase by opening in locations that don’t have space for a full-service Greggs stores. It will be tested in locations including railway stations and retail parks.
Greggs to launch ‘Bake at Home’ with Tesco
The retailer is also to launch a new ‘Bake at Home’ partnership with Tesco in September. Greggs will launch a range of five products in more than 800 Tesco stores and online. It follows the success of a similar partnership with Iceland Foods.
Greggs opened 31 net stores in the first half, expanding its portfolio to 2,649 stores. It says it continues to see opportunities for more than 3,000 UK stores long term and remains on track to open between 140 and 150 net new stores in 2025, with the majority occurring in the second half.
Instore, the company is introducing technology to help automate tasks and improve standards, including digital assistants. Self-service ordering kiosks are being trialled in six stores.
Supply chain investment
Greggs is also investing in its supply chain. A new frozen manufacturing and logistics site in Derby is expected to be operational in the first half of 2026 with stock management and picking automation currently being installed.
Meanwhile, the initial build phase of its new national distribution centre in Kettering is also progressing well. The new site is expected to be operational in the first half of 2027 and will replace its two existing NDC facilities in Kettering. It will also enable Greggs’ existing radial distribution centres to serve around 700 additional stores through the automated upstream picking of chilled and ambient goods.
Roisin Currie, chief executive of Greggs, said: “After a challenging start to 2025, we remain clear on the strategic opportunities that lie ahead. Through our disciplined estate expansion and focus on innovation, Greggs is evolving its offer further and making the brand more convenient for a wider range of customers. The outlook for cost inflation is unchanged and we are making great progress in building the supply chain infrastructure that will support the next phase of growth.
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