Greggs has confirmed that it will not raise prices on its popular sausage rolls or any other items for the remainder of 2026, as easing inflation allows the bakery chain to hold steady. The Newcastle-based company also announced plans to open up to 110 new shops this year, aiming to grow its estate to over 3,500 locations.
Price Stability Confirmed Amid Easing Inflation
Roisin Currie, chief executive of Greggs, stated that the company does not expect to increase prices further this year after cost inflation forecasts dropped from 3% to 2%. “Our prediction for cost inflation has taken a step back, which puts us in the right place,” Ms Currie explained. The assurance comes after customer concerns about possible price hikes on staple items like sausage rolls.
The group’s latest results show that it “continued to outperform the market,” according to Ms Currie. Greggs attributed its strong performance to a “disciplined focus on high-quality locations” for new shops, which have been performing well so far this year.
Expansion Plans and Adapting to Weather Trends
Greggs expects to open between 100 and 110 new stores in 2026, slightly below its earlier target of 120. The chain currently operates 2,773 bakeries after adding 34 on a net basis. Ms Currie highlighted room for growth in travel hubs, industrial sites, retail parks, and motorway locations. “We are focused on opening shops in more catchments and introducing convenient ways for customers to pick up Greggs favourites, while broadening our menu in line with changing tastes,” she said.
To adapt to increased hot weather in the UK, Greggs introduced iced drinks last year and a more compelling range of salads this year. “We have become more resilient as hot weather becomes more normal at certain points,” Ms Currie noted.
Industry Expert Weighs In
Julie Palmer, managing partner at financial and real estate advisory group BTG, commented on the company’s strategy: “Any price rises can quickly translate into demand crumbling away, so Greggs must continue walking a tightrope of pricing and controlling costs to retain market share as the food-to-go provider of choice.”
With its estate potentially exceeding 3,500 locations, Greggs remains confident in its expansion and pricing strategy, offering relief to customers who feared the dreaded price increase on sausage rolls.
