Greggs Proposes Four Site Closures and Ends Production at Treforest in Manufacturing Overhaul

Greggs has proposed a major restructuring of its UK manufacturing network that would close four production sites, end manufacturing at a fifth location and concentrate output across six core factories.

The company says it plans to close manufacturing sites at Enfield, North Lakes, Pettigrews and Seaham. Distribution operations at Enfield would continue.

Greggs also proposes ending manufacturing at Treforest while retaining the location as a distribution centre, reducing the range produced at Clydesmill and Manchester and ending production of tinned bread at Gosforth.

If implemented after consultation, manufacturing would be concentrated at Clydesmill, Gosforth, Balliol, Leeds, Manchester and Derby.

The restructuring comes despite continued expansion. Greggs says its shop estate has grown from 2,181 locations in 2021 to 2,796, while more than £300 million has been invested in manufacturing and logistics since the start of 2024.

The company is building capacity intended to support at least 3,500 shops. That means the programme is not simply a contraction: older or less efficient production is being consolidated while newer facilities and logistics capacity are expanded.

Reuters reported that around 740 jobs could be affected by the proposed changes. Greggs says consultation with employees and union representatives will begin shortly and that no final decisions have yet been made.

For the UK food manufacturing sector, the plan illustrates how a rapidly growing retail food chain can increase total capacity while simultaneously reducing the number of production sites, concentrating automation, logistics and capital investment in a smaller network.