Matcha and protein pivot pays off for Greggs as profits rise
UK bakery giant Greggs reports a 20% jump in first-half profit after introducing new healthier menu items and trending drinks.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Greggs posts a 20% rise in pre-tax profit to £76.0m for the first half of the year.
- Total sales top £1.1 billion for the 26 weeks leading up to the end of June.
- The chain opens 34 new stores, bringing its total store count to 2,773 outlets.
- Home delivery accounts for 6.9% of sales, with customers spending three times more online.
Greggs, the largest fast-food chain in the UK, has successfully boosted its sales and profitability by shifting its focus toward healthier product options and viral food trends during the first half of the year.
Total sales for the bakery chain surpassed £1.1 billion during the 26 weeks up to the end of June, marking a 7.2% increase compared to the same timeframe last year. Pre-tax profit for the first half climbed to £76.0m, up from £63.5m recorded in the first six months of 2025.
The company revamped its salad range in May to include more protein and variety, while also launching iced matcha lattes to attract younger consumers and making nutritional labels more transparent for health-conscious buyers.
"Broadening and innovating our menu in line with changing tastes and trends."
Currie
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Greggs' strategic pivot highlights how traditional food chains can successfully capture modern consumer habits by embracing social media trends like matcha and high-protein diets. By diversifying locations away from traditional high streets into petrol stations and universities, the bakery continues to capture convenient, on-the-go demand.
Having more outlets in the UK than McDonald's, Greggs opened 34 new stores in the first half of 2026, bringing its network to 2,773 locations after 31 closures. Over half of these new openings were placed in areas lacking a Greggs within a mile, including retail parks and hospital campuses.
Looking ahead, the company has no immediate price hikes planned following increases earlier in May, aiming to protect consumer value. Furthermore, home delivery remains a key growth opportunity, generating 6.9% of sales where basket sizes are triple those in physical shops.
Source: BBC Business
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