Greggs has reported like-for-like sales (lfls) up 3.2% in its managed shops in the 13 weeks to 29 September, with total sales growing 7.3%.
Lfls in the year-to-date have increased 2.1% with total sales up 5.9%.
The group has opened 93 new shops in the year-to-date - including 35 franchised units predominantly in transport locations - with 35 closures, and still expects around 100 net openings in 2018.
The group said its drinks range and new focaccia-style pizzas had proved popular over the summer months and it had continued to see growth at breakfast time, driven by further expansion of the offer and coffee range.
Its autumn range will include limited-edition Pumpkin Spice Latte, a new Chilli Beef Bake and new soup and hot sandwich options.
On the outlook for the final quarter, the group said: “Investment in our supply chain continues apace with the commissioning of new consolidated manufacturing platforms at our Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester sites progressing in the fourth quarter. As part of our strategic investment in systems we will be implementing the human resource and estate management modules of our integrated SAP solution in the months ahead, with payroll due to follow in early 2019.
“We were pleased with our trading performance during a period that included a long spell of hot weather, which made sales patterns more difficult to predict. This, and the resulting mix of sales led to a lower-than-normal trading margin in the first part of the quarter, offset by improved trading as we came into September. Overall our expectations for the full year outturn remain unchanged.”
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