GREGGS REPORTS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON 2025 SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

As it nears halfway point in five-year sustainability plan, Greggs outlines the progress made

against its ten commitments in annual sustainability report, The Greggs Pledge, and sets out key focus areas for year ahead

11th April 2023: Greggs is pleased to report significant progress towards its 2025 sustainability targets as it today launches the third edition of its annual sustainability report - The Greggs Pledge.

First launched in 2021, The Greggs Pledge sets out ten commitments to help make the world a better place, with the aim of developing these over the years to come. These commitments, aligned with the ambitions of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, are based on three key areas that Greggs can make the most difference, including:

1.   Building stronger, healthier communities - the pledge to provide free breakfasts to schoolchildren, give surplus food to those most in need and play a part in improving the nation's diet by helping to tackle obesity

2.   Making the planet safer - the pledge to become a carbon-neutral, zero waste business

3.   Becoming a better business - the pledge to increase the diversity of the workforce and to use purchasing power responsibly, with the aim of making things better in the supply chain

Now nearing the halfway mark towards achieving its goals by the end of 2025, Greggs has made significant progress on its ten commitments and has reached the following key milestones:

·    Opened 789 Breakfast Clubs, feeding over 49,000 children every school day

·    Reduced manufacturing food waste by 10% (as a % of sales) and increased food redistribution of unsold food in shops by a further 10%

·    Opened the 30^th Greggs Outlet shop

·    Aligning to the goals of the Paris Agreement - to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, Greggs has set near-term science-based emissions reduction targets which have been approved and published by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

·    Opened the first Eco-Shop and applied the sustainability initiatives from the Eco-Shop into more than 250 of all shops

·    32% of range are now 'Healthier Choice' products

·    Achieved the National Equality Standard

Roisin Currie, Chief Executive at Greggs commented: "When we first launched The Greggs Pledge, we committed to being transparent about - and accountable for - the areas where we believe we could drive the most change in making the world a better place. I am pleased to report that we are on track to meet each one of our ambitious targets that we set out to achieve by the end of 2025 making us both a stronger and better business.

"As we look to the year ahead, we are in a strong position to continue to make significant progress. By giving good food a second chance and redistributing it to those in need and reducing food waste, to implementing initiatives that directly tackle climate change, like continuing to switch to renewable energy, and ensuring we are committed to workplace diversity and inclusivity.

"As a responsible business, Greggs is very much driven by the values outlined in our Pledge and it's hugely important to our colleagues, customers, suppliers and communities that we continue to lead positive change."

To ensure it is on track to meet all ten commitments by 2025, Greggs has assessed the progress made during 2022 and has set out clear targets to achieve by the end of 2023:

1.   Open 1,000 school Breakfast Clubs, providing 70,000 meals each school day

·    Progress in 2022: 789 Breakfast Clubs fed 49,000 children every school day

·    2023 target: Greggs will have opened 850 Breakfast Clubs feeding 52,000 children every school day

2.   Create 25% less food waste than in 2018 and continue to work towards 100% of surplus food going to those most in need

·    Progress in 2022: Greggs reduced the amount of food waste created in manufacturing operations by 10% and increased food redistribution by a further 10%  

·    2023 target: Greggs will have reduced the amount of food waste created in manufacturing operations by an additional 10% and increased food redistribution by a further 10%

3.   Have 50 Outlet shops providing affordable food in areas of social deprivation

·    Progress in 2022: Greggs opened its 30^th Outlet shop

·    2023 target: Greggs will have opened 38 Outlet shops

4.   30% of the items on Greggs' shelves will be heathier choices

·    Progress in 2022: 32% of the range in 2022 were 'Healthier Choice' products, and 34% of all new products created were 'Healthier Choice' products  

·    2023 target: 30% of all new products created  will be 'Healthier choices'

5.   Progress towards Net Zero target by using 100% renewable energy across all of operations

·    Progress in 2022: Greggs completed its Supplier Engagement Plan and set near-term science-based emissions reduction targets which have been approved and publishes by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

·    2023 target: At least 98% of electricity usage will come from renewable sources and 30% of the gas used across operations will be from renewable sources

6.   25% of shops will feature elements from Greggs' Eco-Shop 'shop of the future' design

·    Progress in 2022: Greggs opened the first Eco-Shop and now more than 250 (10.7%) of all shops have Eco-Shop elements

·    2023 target: 400 shops (17% of total estate) will feature Eco-Shop elements

7.   Use 25% less packaging, by weight, than in 2019 and any remaining packaging will be made from material that is widely recycled

·    Progress in 2022: Greggs updated the design of all own brand packaging to feature an On Pack Recycling Label to make recycling communications easier to understand. Greggs created a roadmap to move all own brand packaging to be more easily recycled

·    2023 target: All own brand packaging will be more easily recycled

8.   Our workforce will reflect the communities we serve

·    Progress in 2022: Greggs achieved the National Equality Standard Assessment

·    2023 target: Greggs will report its ethnicity pay gap (in line with business reporting schedule and to be included in our 2023 Annual Report, published April 2024) and provide enhanced support for colleagues from an ethnic minority background to progress their career

9.   Launch a Responsible Sourcing Strategy and report annually on progress towards its targets

·    Progress in 2022: Greggs published its Deforestation Policy, mapped supplier compliance and plan to be deforestation-free by the end of 2025

·    2023 target: Greggs will complete the mapping of soy in animal feed to determine sustainability status  

10. Secure and maintain Tier 1 in the BBFAW Animal Welfare standard

·    Progress in 2022: Greggs ensured all chicken stocking densities were no more than 38kg/m²

·    2023 target: Greggs will further improve its chicken welfare standards, with 50% at less than or equal to 30kg/m² and the remainder at less than or equal to 38kg/m². All pigs will be free from sow stalls

The full Greggs Pledge is available on the Greggs corporate website: click here

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Greggs is a leading UK food-on-the-go retailer with more than 2,300 shops nationwide and approximately 28,000 employees across the business.

The company was founded in 1939 by John Gregg, then delivering fresh eggs and yeast, by pushbike, to the families of Newcastle. Greggs has since grown to become a nations-favourite and much-loved British brand.

Greggs has always been committed to doing the right thing by its people, partners and the communities it serves. In the sixties Greggs launched its first free 'pie n peas supper' for older residents in Gateshead, an initiative that still runs today and continues to support the elderly within the communities Greggs operates in. The Greggs Breakfast Club, launched in 1999, provides schoolchildren with free wholesome breakfasts each school day and today supports more than 50,000 children through its 800 Breakfast Clubs, across the UK. These, and many more initiatives, are supported through the Greggs Foundation, our dedicated grant-making charity that aims to build stronger, healthier communities in the areas we operate.

As a food-on-the-go retailer, Greggs continues to specialise in daily fresh shop-made sandwiches, and savouries baked fresh in the shop ovens throughout the day. These are further complemented by popular products and ranges including freshly ground coffee, breakfast, confectionery, vegan and evening menu items. Greggs also offers healthier choices which includes a selection of lower calorie products. 

Greggs has a delivery partnership with Just Eat enabling customers to enjoy their Greggs favourites via order and delivery. Greggs' Click + Collect offering provides customers with the ability to select their shop and collection time slot of choice and allows them to order a range of Greggs products in advance, ready for collection when they arrive in our shops.

Greggs successfully launched its new website and Greggs App, including its enhanced loyalty proposition. Customers can now earn stamps and rewards across all menu categories, on both walk-in and Click + Collect purchases Through timely, effective customer communication via our new Greggs App, website, social media and CRM system, we can communicate with our customers and be a brand considered by more people when they need food-on-the-go.