Greggs in brief
- Rank: #42 of 100 in UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #1 of 6 in Hospitality & Travel.
- WCRC Power Score: 65.92 out of 100.
- Founded: 1939, by John Gregg.
- Owner: Greggs plc, Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
- Leadership: Roisin Currie, Chief Executive.
- Latest revenue: £2.2bn revenue (FY2025, 52 weeks to 27 Dec 2025, +6.8%), group revenue of Greggs plc, as per company filings.
What makes Greggs powerful
Greggs has turned the humble bakery into one of Britain's most talked-about brands. Founded by John Gregg in Newcastle in 1939, it now sells sausage rolls, steak bakes, breakfast and coffee from a national estate of shops, many on high streets, retail parks, stations and roadside sites. In 2025 total sales rose 6.8% to 2.15 billion pounds and the estate grew by a net 121 shops to 2,739.
Its power lies in value and personality. Greggs keeps prices low enough to win shoppers in tough times, and its marketing, from the vegan sausage roll to fashion collaborations, keeps it in the national conversation. Evening trading, delivery apps and new formats have stretched the brand beyond the lunchtime queue, and its investment in manufacturing and distribution supports further expansion.
Greggs' total sales passed 2.15 billion pounds in 2025, up 6.8% on the year before.
Why Greggs ranks #42
Greggs ranks 42nd with a WCRC Power Score of 65.92, between Bupa above and Arup below. Trust (70) is its best pillar, earned through low prices and a much-loved brand, while Positioning and recall (66) and Digital and financial (66) are solid, supported by sales of 2.15 billion pounds. Sustainability and governance (64) and Product and innovation (62) hold it back, as profit fell 9.4% in 2025 and growth leans on opening more shops.
The Achilles' heel
Greggs' model relies on volume. Underlying profit before tax fell 9.4% to 171.9 million pounds in 2025 as wage and food costs rose faster than prices, and the company expects profit in 2026 to be roughly flat, depending on consumer confidence. Its sheer number of shops raises the risk of cannibalisation, and investors have questioned how much more space growth is possible.
The 2026 story
Greggs' 2025 results, published in March 2026, showed total sales up 6.8% to 2.15 billion pounds but underlying profit before tax down 9.4% to 171.9 million pounds. The company said it expects 2026 profit at a similar underlying level, subject to a recovery in consumer spending, and planned to cut capital expenditure to about 200 million pounds after a heavy investment phase in supply chain capacity.
Pillar profile
Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.
Versus its nearest rivals
Questions people ask
What rank is Greggs in WCRC's UK's Most Powerful Brands 2026?
Greggs ranks #42 of 100 in WCRC's UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026, with a WCRC Power Score of 65.92 out of 100.
What makes Greggs powerful?
Greggs combines low prices with a playful, much-loved brand, and its vegan sausage roll and clever marketing have turned a regional baker into a national favourite with sales above 2 billion pounds.
What is Greggs's revenue?
£2.2bn revenue (FY2025, 52 weeks to 27 Dec 2025, +6.8%), group revenue of Greggs plc, as per company filings.
Who founded and owns Greggs?
Greggs was founded in 1939 by John Gregg. It is owned by Greggs plc and based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Who leads Greggs?
Roisin Currie, Chief Executive.
What is Greggs's biggest challenge?
Profit fell in 2025 as cost inflation and cautious consumers squeezed margins, and growth now depends on opening ever more shops.
Also featured in
- Most powerful Hospitality & Travel brands
- UK's 50 Most Valuable Brands
- UK's Most Trusted Brands
- Most powerful brands in England
Key facts
| Brand | Greggs |
|---|---|
| Company / owner | Greggs plc |
| Headquarters | Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Founder(s) | John Gregg |
| Leadership | Roisin Currie, Chief Executive |
| Latest revenue | £2.2bn revenue (FY2025, 52 weeks to 27 Dec 2025, +6.8%), group revenue of Greggs plc, as per company filings |
| Sector | Hospitality & Travel |
| Website | greggs.com |
| Home country | United Kingdom |
Sources
- Revenue figure published by Greggs plc
- Company website, official announcements and press releases
- Published interviews and statements by the leadership
- WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data
