Greggs is “reactivating” its launch of new shops as trading improves, but has warned that the impact of the coronavirus pandemic could still lead to job losses.
The bakery chain said in a third-quarter trading update that like-for-like sales in September had improved and now stood at about three-quarters of the level achieved a year ago.
As well as reopening stores closed during the lockdown, the company has introduced delivery services via the Just Eat app and “click-and-collect” offerings across the country.
So far this year the company has closed more shops than it has opened – 49 to 38. But it said that with “greater clarity on activity levels” it has now “reactivated elements of our shop opening pipeline”. It expects to open a net 20 shops in 2020, mostly in locations accessible by car.
Ahead of the government furloughing scheme ending in October, Greggs is launching a consultation over a “series of changes” with union and employee representatives. The company said its aim is to “minimise the risk of job losses by negotiating reduced hours in our shops”.
It added: “With business activity levels remaining below normal for the foreseeable future we must change the way we work to be as productive and flexible as we can in order to protect as many jobs as possible for the long term.”
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