I’m Greggs’ top boss – the exact locations to get new menu items first before anyone else

GREGGS' top boss has revealed the exact locations fans can try new menu items before anyone else.

The special sites were revealed last night Channel 5's documentary Inside Greggs: 24/7.

The show, which first started airing last week, takes a look behind the scenes of the UK's largest bakery chain.

It airs every Friday at 8pm and sees Grace Dent take a deep dive into the workings of the bakery giant - which has more than 2,300 stores nationwide.

Some fans might be interested to know that some sites get a taste of the new products before they're offered out across the country.

The chain uses a select number of shops in a specific area to trial most of its new innovations - to see if they'll be popular elsewhere.

Speaking on the show last night Roisin Currie, chief executive officer of Greggs, revealed that Newcastle is that special area.

She explained that the "food zone team" will carry out research and use data on food trends to work out what is coming and what its competitors are up to.

Ms Currie said: "I think the one great piece about putting a new product out, if I'm completely honest, is the shop teams will tell us before it goes on sale if it's a winner or not.

"So, we'll always try and do trials in a small group of shops - so up in Newcastle we do a lot of our trials here."

She went on to explain that Greggs will choose around 10 shops in the city and give them the new products to dish out.

"They'll get to make it, try it, put it on sale - and I would say within the first two hours they'll tell us have we got it right or have we got it wrong," the boss said.

According to Ms Currie "nine times out of 10 they are right" too.

Grace Dent said: "I wonder if the people of Newcastle know they are guinea pigs for this bakery phenomenon."

At the moment, there are several new menu items being trialled across Newcastle and the north east.

These stores have been given special access to new items before the decision is made on whether they should be rolled out nationwide.

The items are being trialled at a select nine stores, they include three chicken wraps and three different crispy chicken ciabatta rolls.

Greggs has also introduced loaded wedges topped with either chicken katsu, BBQ chicken or fiery vegan chilli. 

Two new items were added to the all menus earlier this year after successfully being trialled at shops over recent months.

These are the popular hot yum yums and cookies which you can now get at your local Greggs.

There are said to be around 21 stores just in Newcastle alone, so if you live nearby it might be a good idea to check out their latest offering.

But if not, if it's a winner then you'll likely see them on your local menu soon enough anyway.

You can find your nearest Greggs using the handy locator tool on its website.

In the documentary, Grace Dent also went on to say that Newcastle isn't just a test centre for new food.

The north eastern city was also the home of one of the first Tasty by Greggs cafes within Primark shops earlier this year.

Not only is there a huge selection of our Greggs favourites, including meat bakes and sweet treats, there’s also a sausage roll swing too.

The two high street giants launched the concessions in both Birmingham and Oxford Street East in 2022.

Other UK cities to now host one of the cafes are Bristol, Liverpool and Leeds.

Meanwhile, here is the full list of Greggs cafes inside Primark stores.

Plus, Greggs top boss has revealed they have a secret menu loaded with delicious treats, but you can only get them in certain locations.

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