Greggs set to increase prices for a second time this year
Greggs are upping the prices of some of the nation's most loved sweet treats in a move branded a 'theft tax'.
The move comes just five months after the bakery chain increased the price of its most popular menu item by 5p, to £1.30. The increase in the cost of a sausage roll in January was the second time in six months that Greggs has upped the price after it rose from £1.25 from £1.20 last year.
Greggs charged just 85p for its sausage roll in 2016 but since then, the price has gone up seven times. In January Greggs warned it's price hike was due to the planned rise in employer National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage, set to take effect in April. The bakery chain said 'employment costs will result in further overall cost inflation, although wage increases should provide support to consumers'.
The latest set of hikes are set to kick in on Thursday and will see some items, thought to include cookies and doughnuts, go up 5p. Sources said the chain's sausage rolls will remain at £1.30 and other bakes will also be unaffected.
According to The Sun these latest price hikes are down to an increase in thefts, with the outlet reporting that at one Greggs in London, thieves struck every hour. One Greggs staff member told The Sun: 'The amount of people who steal from the stores costs us thousands a week — so it wouldn't surprise me if part of the price rises is because of that. It's not the company's fault, it's just the way things are now. Plenty of other places have had to put up prices as well.'
Former Met Police DCI David McKelvey, who prosecutes shop thieves on behalf of High Street stores, added: 'We're seeing people steal from Greggs every single day. They are being targeted because thieves are able to just walk in and walk out and nothing is done.' Mr McKelvey, founder of security firm TM Eye, added: 'It goes back to this issue of there being no enforcement. The criminals think they can do whatever they like.'
Greggs have confirmed prices are going up but they haven't linked it to thefts. A spokesperson told The Sun: 'We have had to make small changes to the prices of some of our products due to rising costs. We continue to offer our customers great value, high-quality products across the entire range, maintaining our value-leading position in the food-to-go market.'
For those who want to enjoy Greggs goods at a chaper price Greggs is set to open seven new discount outlet stores this year. Greggs Outlet sells surplus food including sausage rolls and bakes at super cheap prices.
You can typically find discounts of up to 75% off - so for example, a four-pack of sausage rolls costs £1.85 in Greggs Outlet, which is 46p a sausage roll. You would normally pay around £4.35 for a four-pack of sausage rolls in a regular Greggs store. Greggs has 38 outlet stores. The sausage roll chain originally wanted to increase this number to 50 in 2025, but it is now aiming for 45 stores.
Greggs has not revealed the locations for its new Greggs Outlet stores.
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