Greggs employees to share £7m bonus pot after 'exceptional year'

Greggs employees will share a one-off £7m payment after the bakery company hailed an “exceptional year”.

Total sales were up 13.5% across the 2,000-site strong group in the fourth quarter of the year to 28 December 2019, with managed locations recording like-for-like sales increases of 9.2%.

The success of the year that saw Greggs launch its vegan sausage roll has resulted in predictions of full-year pre-tax profits being above expectations.

Chief executive Roger Whiteside said: "We delivered a strong finish to what has been an exceptional year for Greggs. The major investments we have made in recent years to make Greggs an attractive choice in the food-on-the-go market are delivering. Consumers are responding very positively and we have seen increasing visits from both new and existing customers.

"Our record financial performance in 2019 has enabled us to enhance returns to shareholders. I am delighted to announce that we will also be making a special additional payment to all of our colleagues across the business who have worked so hard to deliver this success in what has been a phenomenal year.”