Greggs Profits Drop 17.9% to £167.4 Million Despite Sales Rise

Greggs, the Newcastle-based bakery chain renowned for its sausage rolls and steak bakes, reported a significant decline in profits for 2025 amid ongoing economic pressures, even as total sales continued to rise. The company, which employs more than 33,000 people across its UK network, announced on Tuesday that statutory pre-tax profits fell 17.9 percent to £167.4 million for the year ended December 27, 2025, compared with the previous year. Total sales, however, increased by 6.8 percent to £2.15 billion, supported by an aggressive expansion program and growth in delivery services.

The profit drop reflects a challenging market environment marked by cautious consumer spending due to high grocery and energy bills, elevated tax and labor costs, and a spell of hot weather that reduced high street footfall. Chief Executive Roisin Currie highlighted the impact of these factors during a press briefing, stating, "We have come into 2026 planning for another challenging year. When you look at consumer confidence and disposable income, you can see that the backdrop is still tough out there." She noted that cost inflation had eased from nearly 6 percent in 2025 to around 3 percent this...