Greggs to cut 740 jobs and close four factories

Greggs, the UK high street bakery chain, has announced plans to close four of its factories and cut 740 jobs as part of a restructuring of its manufacturing operations.

The closures represent a significant reduction in Greggs' production footprint, affecting employees at the four sites slated for shutdown. The company has not detailed the specific locations of the affected factories in the initial announcement, though the job losses represent a substantial portion of its manufacturing workforce.

Greggs has grown rapidly in recent years, expanding its footprint of high street and retail-park stores across the UK and diversifying its offerings beyond its traditional bakery staples. The decision to close factories and reduce headcount suggests the company is looking to streamline or reorganize its production capacity, even as its retail presence has continued to expand.

Job losses of this scale typically prompt consultation processes with affected staff and, where applicable, trade unions, as companies work through the practical and legal steps required before implementing factory closures. Affected employees would generally be offered support such as redundancy packages or opportunities to relocate to other roles within the company, depending on Greggs' specific plans.

The announcement adds Greggs to a list of UK retailers and food manufacturers that have restructured their operations in response to shifting cost pressures and changing consumer demand patterns across the high street sector.