Leading food-on-the-go retailer Greggs has today opened a new shop in Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal, marking its first airport site in London, and eighth airport location in the UK.
The Gatwick opening represents a major milestone in Greggs’ expansion strategy, which focuses on extending beyond the high street to key transport hubs across the UK. While the Company has built a strong presence in the UK’s traditional towns and suburban locations, a key aspect of its future growth plans will centre on targeting high footfall locations that cater to travellers, commuters, and drivers, bringing Greggs to more customers, broadening customer appeal and driving loyalty.
The Gatwick Airport shop is the latest shop opening for Greggs’ travel hub strategy which marks a significant step towards the company goal of opening 150 net new shops in 2023, following a record 147 net new shop openings in 2022.
Other 2023 shop openings in key transport hubs include Glasgow International Airport, Cardiff Airport, Shepherds Bush Tube Station and Canary Wharf Station in London, building on the openings in Liverpool Street Station, and Birmingham and Liverpool airports just last year.
Having generated 50 new jobs in total, the shop in Gatwick Airport will be open 24 hours and will sell its full menu, which includes an extensive range of products, from freshly prepared salads and sandwiches, savouries and bakes (including vegan-friendly alternatives), breakfast items, freshly ground Fairtrade coffee, to sweet treats as well as hot food options such as potato wedges and chicken goujons. To reflect this expanded offer and to cater for predicted high demand in the airport, the shop will be 1600 square feet, twice the size of a typical Greggs shop. Located at the South Arrivals, the shop will greet customers as they walk through the doors, offering a warm welcome home.
Tony Rowson, property director at Greggs, commented: “Driven by customer demand for convenient, great value and great-tasting products, we want Greggs to be accessible, wherever, whenever and however our customers need us. That’s why we are now focusing on growth in travel locations, so that we can continue to adapt to our customers’ needs and lifestyles and bring Greggs to more people.
“Our versatile shop formats, new digital channels and relationships with our franchise and wholesale partners have enabled us to adapt our offering and expand in many new locations such as supermarkets, shopping centres and key transport hubs, like the Gatwick Airport. This new shop is also indicative of the next generation of shop refits and will feature state-of-the-art design to ensure our customers have a brilliant experience when they visit us.”
