Tasty sales success at bakery chain Greggs

Further signs of a bumper high street Christmas emerged today as bakery chain Greggs said it sold more than a million mince pies each week of the festive period.

Comparative sales during the four weeks to December 26 grew 1.1 per cent, while Christmas week was described as a "very strong performance" with a 4.4 per cent increase.

Greggs, with stores across Staffordshire and the West Midlands, said the snowy weather had presented challenges and praised staff for keeping shops open.

The firm, which plans to open 50 to 60 new stores this year as part of an "accelerated" expansion programme, said the overall trading environment remained difficult.

Same-store sales for the financial year as a whole increased by 0.8 per cent and the company said it expects annual results to be in line with forecasts.

Greggs said mince pie sales in the four-week Christmas period were boosted by the launch of a new Viennese version and rose six per cent on a like-for-like basis.

In Christmas week itself, the firm said it served 250,000 more customers than last year.

Greggs said its savoury products were particularly in demand, with comparable sales up 10 per cent.

Chief executive Ken McMeikan said he was pleased with the firm's sales performance in a challenging time for the high street.

The Newcastle-based group, which currently has 1,419 stores, plans to ramp up its expansion.

The drive will bring more shops in locations where customers work and travel, such as transport hubs and retail parks. At least 70 additional stores will be added each year from 2011 in a move that is expected to create 6,000 new jobs.