GREGGS has confirmed it permanently closed 56 stores last year as it reports its first loss in 36 years due to the Covid.
The store closures were offset by 84 new branch openings in 2020.
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However, the bakery chain today announced a pre-tax loss of £13.7million in 2020, compared with a £108.3million profit a year earlier.
Meanwhile, sales dropped from £1.17billion to £811.3million as stores closed their doors for large swathes of the year.
Greggs had never previously reported a loss since becoming a public company on the London Stock Exchange in 1984.
A spokesperson told The Sun store closures happen every year as they’re part of Greggs’ ongoing estate maintenance.
It added that it aims to open around 100 net shops each year.
It couldn’t confirm how many workers lost their jobs due to the closures, but said it always aims to relocate as many as possible.
The Sun has asked Greggs for a list of the stores that opened and closed last year, and we’ll update this article once we hear back.
Greggs has been forced to shut for dine-in during various lockdowns in the past year, but its stores remain open for takeaway and delivery services.
However, city centre locations and travel hub sites have seen substantial falls due to the stay-at-home Government orders.
The latest restrictions since the start of the year have hit overall sales, with like-for-like sales down 28.8% in the 10 weeks to March 13.
Meanwhile, delivery services and a partnership with Just Eat helped offset some of the falls, with 9.6% of total sales in the first ten weeks of 2021 now coming via deliveries.
Greggs has more than 2,000 branches across the UK. You can find your nearest one by using its store locator tool.
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Following the first lockdown last year, all Greggs stores were closed on March 23, even though it was allowed to stay open for takeaway orders.
After a later trial reopening, around 800 of Greggs’ branches then reopened for business by mid June.
Last month, a Greggs fan shared how she got £11.45 worth of treats for just £2.59 with a food waste app.
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