Greggs has said that transport locations have recovered most as it continues to see sales rise.

Greggs coffee cup

The high street food chain reported like-for-like sales up 27.4% in the first 19 weeks of the year, though this is “flattered” by the comparison with the lockdown period last year.

Greggs said the last 10 weeks to May 14, compared with the previous year when lockdowns were easing, averaged 15.8% sales growth.

Greggs opened 49 new stores and closed six during the quarter, amounting to a net total of 2,224.

The business said travel and transport locations performed particularly well, while sales in city centres and office-based locations lagged behind.

Sales of hot food and snacks such as chicken goujons and potato wedges also performed well.

The food-to-go retailer said: “We have made a good start to 2022 with sales in line with our plan and a strong pipeline of new shop acquisitions ahead.  

“Looking ahead, market-wide cost pressures have been increasing and consumer incomes will clearly be under pressure in the second half of the year.  

“We will continue to work to mitigate the impact of cost pressures whilst protecting Greggs’ reputation for exceptional value.”

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