Greggs
Financial Plan
Liquid capital
The amount you need to secure the necessary loans.
Total investment
Total Investment to launch the business, including initial fees (Not disclosed)
The Concept
- Year of creation
- 1939
The UK's largest food-to-go bakery
Value-led food-to-go, baked through the day
Greggs is the UK’s largest bakery and food-to-go chain, and it reaches part of its estate through franchise partners rather than company-managed shops.
Founded in 1939, when John Gregg delivered fresh eggs and yeast by pushbike to families around Newcastle, the business opened its first shop, Greggs of Gosforth, on Gosforth High Street around a decade later. It now trades from 2,773 shops as at 27 June 2026, of which 627 are run by franchise partners. Franchising began in the early 2010s, with the first units operated under licence by Moto Hospitality: 21 of 1,690 shops at 29 June 2013. By the end of 2025 Greggs was working with 14 franchise partners and had added 57 franchised shops during the year, taking franchised sites to just over 20% of the estate. Total sales reached £2.15 billion in the 52 weeks to 27 December 2025, and like-for-like system sales in franchised shops rose 4.3% to £325.6 million. Greggs employs more than 33,000 people and is building logistics capacity for 3,500 shops.
Why Choose the Franchise Greggs?
Franchising stays a deliberately limited part of the model, used in locations where the company would find it difficult to operate directly: motorway service stations, petrol forecourts and selected travel hubs. Greggs partners with businesses that specialise in running retail outlets in those settings, Moto Hospitality among the longest-standing. By June 2026, 627 shops were franchised, just over 20% of the estate, across 14 partners, with Motor Fuel Group alone running 147. Like-for-like system sales in franchised shops rose 4.3% to £325.6 million in 2025.
These agreements are not open to the general public or to small business investors. They are reserved for large organisations with the infrastructure to meet Greggs’ operating standards, and Greggs publishes no entry fee, investment figure or capital requirement. Keeping the majority of shops in company hands lets it hold uniform pricing and quality control and move quickly on product: the vegan sausage roll went across the whole estate in a single centrally managed rollout.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Greggs franchise?
Greggs publishes no initial fee, no total investment figure and no capital requirement. Figures circulating online come from franchise directories that cite no source and contradict one another. None traces back to Greggs plc or to a filed document.
Which companies operate Greggs franchise shops?
Motor Fuel Group is the largest partner, with 147 shops. Others include Moto, Welcome Break, Roadchef, Applegreen, and Rontec. In 2026, Greggs added Lagardère Travel Retail, opening its first international travel hub shop at Tenerife South Airport.
How many Greggs shops are franchised?
627 of 2,773 shops as at 27 June 2026, just over 20% of the estate. The company added 57 franchised shops during 2025.
How much does a franchised Greggs shop turn over?
Around £600,000 to £680,000 a year. Greggs reported franchise like-for-like system sales of £325.6 million for 2025 across roughly 480 to 500 qualifying shops. Company-managed shops average closer to £890,000, reflecting a franchised estate weighted towards forecourts and travel sites.
What does a Greggs partnership include?
Partners take a brand licence and are supplied from Greggs’ own bakeries and distribution network. Shop design follows Greggs’ standards, staff complete a structured training programme, and each partner has a dedicated support contact. National marketing, seasonal ranges and the Greggs App operate at brand level.
Why does Greggs only franchise to corporate partners?
Franchising is used where the company would find it difficult to trade directly: motorway service stations, petrol forecourts and selected travel hubs. Partners are businesses that already specialise in running retail outlets in those settings and already control the sites.
How is the Greggs franchise estate performing?
Like-for-like system sales across franchised shops rose 4.3% to £325.6 million in 2025. Total company sales reached £2.15 billion in the 52 weeks to 27 December 2025.
Les dernières actualités de FRANCHISE
Sun, sea and sausage rolls – Greggs eyes expansion abroad again
British bakery chain Greggs is opening its first overseas outlet in nearly two decades at Tenerife South Airport later this month, in partnership with Lagardere Travel Retail. The shop will sit in the international departures area and target the roughly 13 million passengers who pass through the terminal each year,…
