Who is the CEO of Greggs?

Greggs is one of the UK’s favourite bakeries. For over 70 years, it has been providing people across the nation with indulgent bread and pastries, growing from a single store in Gosforth to a company with over 1,850 stores. Known for its sausage rolls, Greggs is a household name that people turn to throughout the day for pick-me-ups and quick meals.

Free from artificial colours, flavours or MSG, Greggs produce is designed to be ‘good food’. The company pays attention to the ethical side of business, not only by leaving potentially harmful ingredients out of its food, but also by supporting its employees. It has been named one of the happiest places to work, which is partly why it is continuing to enjoy large-scale success.

The leader currently at the helm of this hugely successful business is Roger Whiteside.

Greggs CEO

Whiteside has been the CEO of Greggs since 2013. However, he has been involved in the food industry for decades, having worked at Marks and Spencer for 20 years and subsequently becoming one of the founders of Ocado. He has helped Greggs get through difficult times during the recession to rebound with record sales and profits in recent years.

He has introduced a number of initiatives for the growing company, including Balanced Choice, a range that offers customers healthier lunch and snacking options such as salads, smoothies and yoghurts. He has also positioned the brand alongside the likes of Starbucks and McDonalds to be a food-on-the-go retailer, rather than just a bakery.

As well as his commitment to bettering the food industry, Whiteside promotes equality in business. In 2018, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to Women and Equality. He is a member of the Women’s Business Council. This government-backed organisation is driving equality in business by raising awareness, encouraging regulation and championing best practice.

Read more:

• Greggs – Is it a Franchise?

What charities does Greggs support?

Charitable giving is central to the Greggs’ business plan. In the sixties when it had only been in business for a decade, it offered a free ‘pie n peas supper’ for older residents in Gateshead, helping to bring the community together.

In more recent years, it has established the Greggs Foundation, a charitable trust and grant programme that strives to help disadvantaged people. One of the foundation’s main initiatives is the Breakfast Clubs programme, which provides nutritious breakfast to over 32,000 school children a year. Meanwhile, its grants fund projects for local communities. For example, it has used the 5p levy on carrier bags to support environmental projects. The grants have also helped provide up to £150 to buy fridges, cookers and clothing for families and individuals who have fallen on difficult times.

Greggs is also a major supporter of cancer research. Each year it holds a Children’s Cancer Run, which has raised over £30 million for the charity since its inception.

Is Greggs food ethically produced?

Thanks to a number of internal policies, Greggs chooses to source its products in ethical ways. It avoids meat and dairy where the animals are subject to abuse, for example, buying free-range whole eggs. For this commitment, Greggs has earned itself a Compassion in World Farming’s Good Egg award. The company also buys Fairtrade products to support producers in developing countries, including its tea, coffee, sugar, orange juice and apple juice. This pledge has helped local communities around the world to invest in local schools and healthcare facilities.

To ensure its suppliers can thrive too, Greggs works closely with them to make sure all bills are paid promptly. It also assesses its suppliers against the British Retail Consortium global standard for food safety to make sure the ingredients it uses are all handled properly.

What does Greggs sell?

Greggs caters to the food-on-the-go market, giving customers delicious baked foods and salads from morning to night. It specialises in pastries, famed for its sausage rolls, steak bakes and filled doughnuts, offering delicious snacks that are quick and easy to eat.

People can go to Greggs to enjoy a full meal, though. There are sandwiches, salads and drinks on the menu as well, which is why it is known as a go-to lunchtime bakery.

Is Greggs a franchise?

Although Greggs would seem to be a perfect franchise opportunity, it hasn’t ventured into this style of growth. It is thought that the company prefers to centralise its operations to keep track of day-to-day management.

However, it does welcome franchise enquiries, which suggests this may not be the case forever. If Greggs does decide to offer franchise prospects, it is likely to do so with stringent guidelines on procedures, sales and marketing.

Are there other franchise opportunities similar to Greggs?

If you would like to set up a fast food franchise, there are several other companies that will allow you to do so. Subway, the famous sandwich store, is one of the largest franchises in the UK that provides franchisees the opportunity to benefit from its well-known brand.

There are also a number of baked goods franchises being offered at the moment, which could suit someone wanting to sell these products. Auntie Anne’s(/franchise/auntie-anne-s) sells pretzels and has a number of stores across the UK, traditionally in shopping centres with high footfall. Esquires Coffee(/franchise/esquires-coffee) sells ethical produce, including cakes and pastries, which is in-line with the Greggs way of doing business. Baguette Express(/franchise/baguette-express) sells quick and tasty lunchtime options for an affordable price, which mirrors the Greggs offering. If you are looking to sell vegan food, Humpit is the only plant-based food franchise in the UK and is supporting a growing trend in the UK.

These food businesses are great franchise opportunities, giving you a chance to become a part of your community while making a profit. To run a run food franchise, you need to be committed and happy to put in the hours – but the rewards can be huge.