Thousands of Greggs staff to get £700 bonus after fast food chain’s record profits
THOUSANDS of Greggs staff will get a bonus of more than £700 after the baker made record profits last year.
The high-flying chain will split £17.6million between 25,000 employees who have worked there for at least six months.
The baked goods behemoth has shared ten per cent of its profits with staff since the 1970s — and has seen those gains rocket by a quarter to £188.3million last year.
Sales at the value-driven outfit, which aims to increase shop numbers in the next five years from 2,473 to 3,000, jumped a fifth to £1.8billion.
The firm has three 24-hour drive-thrus and open-all-hours stores in airports.
It plans to open a factory in Derby, creating around 1,000 jobs.
READ MORE MONEY NEWS
Nineteen in every 20 Brits can identify its blue and yellow square logo and Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and Olly Murs are fans.
Boss Roisin Currie said the staff bonus, which varies with length of service and hours, would be in this month’s pay.
She explained that the success which led to it was partly due to Greggs’ prices.
Ms Currie added: “The cost of living crisis affected more people than was thought.
Most read in Business
“People were seeking out value and value for money, which is what Greggs offers.
“I think the snobbishness (about Greggs) has reduced.”
She said the firm, which started out in Newcastle in 1939, was focusing on making “at least 30 per cent of its range . . . healthy food”.
She promised “more explosive flavours”, with spicier additions to the menu, after its food researchers concluded Brits’ tastes were changing.
Breakfast blow for McMuffin
THE bargain bacon roll and coffee deal has helped Greggs to claim top spot from McDonald’s for takeaway breakfasts.
Greggs said it now has a 19.6 per cent slice of the market — eclipsing the nation’s love of a McMuffin for the first time.
It already claims it is the UK’s biggest food-to-go brand.
Analysts agreed, calling Greggs the “king of breakfasts” today.
Boss Roisin Currie said its breakfast roll meal deal for £2.75 — £2.85 in London — was cheaper than most takeaway coffee.
She said: “Where in London can you get a cup of coffee for £2.85?”