Greggs PLC is a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the GRG ticker. As of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, the company had a market capitalization of approximately £1.8 billion. As of this post, Greggs Share Price is at 2,748.71 GBp.
Investors interested in purchasing shares of Greggs PLC can do so through a broker that offers access to the LSE. They must set up a trading account and order the desired shares.
Greggs PLC is a British bakery and fast food chain founded in 1939 by John Gregg as a small family bakery in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Over the years, the business grew steadily, and by the 1970s, it had expanded to become a regional bakery chain with several shops across the North East of England.
In the 1980s, Greggs underwent significant expansion and transformation under the leadership of Ian Gregg, John’s son. The company began to focus on selling takeaway food such as sausage rolls, pastries, and sandwiches alongside its traditional bakery items, which proved highly popular with customers. By the decade’s end, Greggs had become a national chain with over 500 shops across the UK.
Since then, the company has continued to grow and diversify its offerings, expanding its menu to include hot drinks, breakfast items, and healthier options. In 2019, Greggs launched its highly successful vegan sausage roll, which helped boost sales and attract new customers.
In recent years, Greggs has also made efforts to improve its sustainability credentials by reducing plastic packaging and sourcing more sustainable ingredients. As a result, the company is now publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange and is one of the largest bakery chains in the UK, with over 2,000 shops across the country.
- Strong brand recognition. Greggs is a well-known and popular brand in the UK, with a long history of providing high-quality baked goods and takeaway food. This could potentially provide a competitive advantage and help to attract customers to its stores.
- Resilient business model. Despite economic and social uncertainties, Greggs has shown resilience in facing challenges. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company adapted its business model to offer delivery and click-and-collect services and maintained a solid financial position.
- Diversification. Greggs has diversified its offerings over the years to include a wide range of food and drink options, which could potentially help to mitigate risk and provide multiple revenue streams.
- Commitment to sustainability. As mentioned earlier, Greggs has tried to improve its sustainability credentials by reducing plastic packaging and sourcing more sustainable ingredients. This could potentially appeal to environmentally conscious consumers and investors.
- Dividend payments. Greggs has a track record of paying dividends to shareholders, which could provide investors with a regular source of income.
Main Competitors
Greggs PLC operates in the highly competitive food and beverage industry, which faces competition from various companies. Some of its main competitors in the UK market include:
- McDonald’s – A global fast-food chain that offers a range of burgers, fries, and other takeaway food items.
- Costa Coffee – A coffeehouse chain that offers hot and cold drinks, pastries, and sandwiches.
- Subway – A sandwich chain that offers a range of subs, wraps, and salads.
- Pret A Manger – A sandwich and coffee chain that focuses on fresh and natural ingredients.
- KFC – A fast-food chain that specializes in fried chicken and other takeaway food items.
- Starbucks – A coffeehouse chain that offers a range of hot and cold drinks, pastries, and sandwiches.
- Bakery chains such as Cooplands and Warrens Bakery specialize in baked goods.
- Local independent cafes and bakeries that offer similar food and drink items.
