Greggs to close four UK factories with potential for 740 job losses

UK bakery chain Greggs plans to close four factories over the next two and a half years, potentially resulting in 740 job losses. The company states the move is necessary to improve cost-efficiency despite reporting a 7.7% increase in sales.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between corporate growth strategies and workforce stability in the UK retail sector amidst inflationary pressures.
The popularity of its low-cost pastries, cakes and hot drinks has led to Greggs becoming the UK’s biggest fast-food business. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA The popularity of its low-cost pastries, cakes and hot drinks has led to Greggs becoming the UK’s biggest fast-food business. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Greggs Greggs announces plans to shut four UK factories that could cost 740 jobs Bakery chain, whose sales are up 7.7%, says move is necessary to provide growth in ‘most cost-efficient manner’
Prefer the Guardian on Google Greggs has announced plans to close four of its factories, in a move that could result in 740 job losses over the next two and a half years.
The bakery chain said it was consulting on the closures, which would initially cost £60m when including disruption costs and redundancy payments but then could create £20m of savings each year by 2028.
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