The Great Cornish Bake Off? Greggs faces battle with local pasty makers as it eyes Cornwall expansion

Greggs says it wants to open new stores in Cornwall and the South West of England – in a move that could put the bakery chain toe-to-toe with traditional Cornish pasty makers.

The company’s boss, Roisin Currie, says the company is on track to open 150 new shops nationwide this year – and could open even more if the right sites become available.

She says the company is particularly interested in new sites in Cornwall and other areas of the South West of England.

It is set to open its fourth shop in Cornwall, at a business park in Saltash, today.

But Greggs – founded in Tyneside in 1939 and famed for its sausage rolls and steak bakes – will face a competitive grab-and-go market in the county, where the Cornish pasty has been a staple for hundreds of years.

“The opening strategy is going to plan and the new location in Cornwall is a key part of that,” Ms Currie said.

“Obviously we are a brand that started from the North and the natural growth of the business from there means there are some parts of the country, such as in Cornwall and the South West, where we see more scope to open sites.”

Greggs currently operates around 2,300 shops across the UK – and hopes to expand to more than 3,000 as part of its long-term growth strategy.

A number of new sites in the company’s growth plan target tourists and motorists, with openings at forecourts and service stations.

Read more:
Greggs plans to open new stores despite elevated pay and energy costs
Greggs wins battle to sell late-night sausage rolls in Leicester Square

In May, the bakery chain revealed in May that sales surged by nearly a fifth over the start of 2023 – despite the cost-of-living crisis.

It said its cheap meals remained “compelling” to cash-strapped consumers.

“We’re looking very positively towards the summer and hopefully this warm weather will mean more people out and about, and ultimately looking for somewhere to eat,” Ms Currie said.