Greggs is preparing to open new stores in Cornwall as part of its rapid expansion across the UK, in a move which could face backlash from local pasty makers.
Chief executive Roisin Currie said the bakery giant is on track to open 150 new shops nationwide this year – with the possibility of opening even more if the right sites become available.
She added that the business is particularly interested in new sites in Cornwall and other areas in the South West of England, according to Sky News.
It comes as it opened its fourth shop in Cornwall, at a business park in Saltash, over the weekend.
However, Greggs, founded in Newcastle in 1939, will face a competitive market in the area, where Cornish pasties have been an iconic staple for hundreds of years.
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Greggs is rapidly expanding and opened a record 186 new shops last year, growing its estate to 2,328 UK stores. It reported a surge in sales of 23% to £1.5 billion in 2022.
It plans to reach over 3,000 shops as part of its long-term growth strategy.
“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 CEO Roisin Currie said.
“The opening strategy is going to plan and the new location in Cornwall is a key part of that.”
“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.”
