‘Peak Greggs’? Bakery chain’s profits slump and sales slow

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Guardian staff and agenciesMarch 3, 2026 at 10:20 AM

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medium article 3 min

Greggs reported a 17.9% slump in pre-tax profits to £167.4m for the year ending December 27th, citing challenging market conditions that impacted consumer confidence and disposable income. The bakery chain experienced slower sales growth due to factors like rising cost of living, higher taxes and labor costs, and the popularity of weight-loss treatments. Despite these challenges, total sales grew by 6.8% to £2.15 billion, supported by 121 net store openings, expanding its estate to 2,739 locations. Greggs anticipates easing inflationary pressures will improve consumer spending, but acknowledges a potentially difficult year ahead. The company plans to continue its expansion, targeting over 3,000 UK shops in the long term.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

PA Media 30% Middle East 40% United Kingdom 70% Roisin Currie ×380% Greggs ×10100%

Keywords

greggs 100% profits slump 90% sales slow 80% consumer confidence 70% disposable income 70% market conditions 60% inflationary pressures 60% store openings 50% cost of living 50% retail business 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

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Source

The Guardian - World News

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90%

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United Kingdom

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greggs profits slump sales slow consumer confidence disposable income market conditions inflationary pressures store openings cost of living retail business

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