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Greggs plc

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Industry Grocery Stores
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FY2010 Annual Report · Greggs plc
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ANNUAL 
REPORT & 
ACCOUNTS
2010

1487

shops nationwide

68 new shops opened
in the last year

 
 
 
Annual Report & Accounts 2010

Contents

Directors’ Report and Business Review
  Chairman’s Statement 

  Chief Executive’s Report 

  Corporate Social Responsibility 

Key Performance Indicators 

  Corporate Governance 

Fixed assets 

  Directors and their interests 

Substantial shareholdings 

Authority to purchase shares 

Auditors 

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities 

Report of the independent auditors 

Consolidated income statement 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

Balance sheets 

Statements of changes in equity 

Statements of cashfl ows 

Notes to the consolidated accounts 

Directors’ Remuneration Report 

6

8

12

18

20

27

27

28

28

31
32

33

35

35

36

37

39

41

72

 
 
 
 
 
2

Baking since 1939

The Home of Fresh Baking 

Greggs is the leading bakery 
retailer in the UK. We have over 
1,480 shops, supplied by ten 
regional bakeries and 90 in-store 
bakers. 

We employ over 19,000 people and 
serve six million customers each 
week. 

We are passionate about baking 
and offer our customers quality, 
fresh food at great value prices.  
We are tremendously proud of 
our food, hand making all of our 
sandwiches and baking all our 
savouries fresh each day in our 
shops.

Financial highlights

Turnover 
Like–for–like sales growth 
Operating profit 
Pre–tax profit  

Diluted earnings per share 
Dividend per ordinary share 

* 2009 sales included a 53rd week.

Financial calendar

Announcement of results and dividends 

Half year 
Full year 

Dividends 
Interim 
Final 

Annual report posted to shareholders 
Annual General Meeting 

We are a growing business, with 
plans to make Greggs even more 
accessible to new customers by 
opening over 600 shops in the 
coming years, in locations where 
people live, work, travel and spend 
their leisure time.

Our new shops will create around 
6,000 new retail jobs. Our 
expansion plans also include 
investment in our supply chain,  
to allow our ten bakeries to 
efficiently supply both new and 
existing shops.

2010 
£’m 

662.3 
0.2% 
52.4 
52.5 

Pence 

37.3 
18.2 

2009
£’m 

658.2*
0.8%
48.4
48.8

Pence

34.0
16.6

 Early August  
 March

 Mid October  
 20 May 2011

 Early April  
 11 May 2011 

Annual Report & Accounts 2010

3

 
 
 
 
Our Vision

4

Our vision is to be 
the number one for 
sandwiches and savouries 
from a united team who are 
passionate about being the 
best in bakery.

For our customers 

We offer a wide range of fresh, 
delicious, quality bakery food. 
Every single sandwich we sell is 
hand made in the shops each day 
by our highly trained staff.  
All our savouries are sold fresh 
from the ovens in our shops 
throughout the day.

Our bakeries hand finish millions 
of products each week. We believe 
we are different because we make 
and bake most of our food from 
scratch. Our people are passionate 
about baking and each product 
is carefully prepared to give our 
customers quality and freshness at 
great value prices.

For our people 

We never forget that it’s our 
people who make us a successful 
company. That’s why we want 
all our people to feel individually 
valued and looked after, and 
for each person to share in the 
Company’s success.

Our values

Greggs began as a family business 
and we have retained those 
good, honest family values as our 
business has grown.

We will be enthusiastic and 
supportive in all that we do, 
open, honest and appreciative, 
treating everyone with fairness, 
consideration and respect.

For our communities 

We promise to continue to help 
make a difference to people’s 
lives. Through our award winning 
Greggs Breakfast Club scheme, 
the Greggs Foundation, Children’s 
Cancer Runs and other fundraising 
activities, we strive to make a 
positive impact on people’s lives, 
building a strong community 
reputation in the areas where we 
operate.

best in
bakery

For our shareholders 

We have a proven track record of 
success and return on investment. 
Importantly, in today’s economic 
climate more than ever, we offer the 
assurance and commitment that 
our business is run with integrity 
and that we are a responsible 
company. We are proud that 
Greggs is a trusted, valued and 
respected business.

Annual Report & Accounts 2010

5

Directors’ Report

pence), paid in October 2010, 
this makes a total for the year of 
18.2 pence (2009: 16.6 pence), 
an increase of 9.6 per cent. This is 
covered 2.0 times (2009: 2.0 times) 
by diluted earnings per share.

Subject to the approval of the 
Annual General Meeting, the fi nal 
dividend will be paid on 20 May 
2011 to shareholders on the 
register on 26 April 2011. 

We are proud to maintain our 
exceptional record of dividend 
growth for the 26th consecutive 
year since Greggs fl oated on the 
stock market in 1984. The Board 
remains committed to pursuing a 
progressive dividend policy that 
pays due regard to the growth 
of earnings per share over the 
medium term, the cash generative 
nature of our growing business and 
our continuing determination to 
deliver value to our shareholders.

During the year we purchased for 
cancellation 2,834,569 shares at 
an average price of £4.51 and a 
total cost of £12.9 million, in line 
with the plans we announced in 
March 2010. The business remains 
strongly cash generative and we 
ended the year with net cash and 
short term investments of £23.8 
million (2009: £34.6 million) on the 
balance sheet. 

Taken together, the cash return to 
shareholders through buybacks 
and dividends paid in 2010 was 
£29.9 million.

Results

Total Group sales for the 52 weeks 
ended 1 January 2011 were £662 
million, an increase of 2.1 per cent 
compared with the equivalent 
52 week period in 2009. Like-for-
like sales grew by 0.2 per cent. 
Compared with our turnover of £658 
million in the 53 weeks ended 2 
January 2010, the increase in total 
sales was 0.6 per cent.

Operating profi t grew by 8.1 per 
cent to £52.4 million (2009: £48.4 
million) refl ecting an improvement 
in operating margin to 7.9 per 
cent (2009: 7.4 per cent). After 
net fi nance income of £0.2 million 
(2009: £0.3 million) pre-tax profi t 
increased by 7.7 per cent to £52.5 
million (2009: £48.8 million). There 
were no exceptional items during 
either year.

The Group’s effective tax rate for 
the year was 27.8 per cent (2009: 
29.5 per cent), refl ecting positive 
settlement of outstanding capital 
allowance claims and the impact 
of the Government’s reduction in 
the Corporation Tax rate to 27 per 
cent on our deferred tax balances. 
Diluted earnings per share were 
37.3 pence (2009: 34.0 pence), 
an increase of 9.7 per cent which 
refl ected the benefi ts of the lower 
tax charge and our share buyback 
programme. 

Dividend and share 
buyback

The Board recommends an 
increased fi nal dividend of 12.7 
pence per share (2009: 11.4 
pence). Together with the interim 
dividend of 5.5 pence (2009: 5.2 

Directors’ Report and 
Business Review for the 52 
weeks ended 1 January 2011

The directors have pleasure in 
presenting their annual report and 
the audited accounts for the 52 
weeks ended 1 January 2011. The 
comparative period is the 53 weeks 
ended 2 January 2010.

The directors’ report and business 
review is set out on pages 6 to 31.

Chairman’s Statement

“ I am pleased to report another 
year of good progress. We have 
delivered record profi ts and a 
record number of new shop 
openings. We are delighted to 
be able to refl ect this success 
by increasing our dividend 
to shareholders for the 26th 
consecutive year as well as 
continuing to reward our people 
through our long-established profi t 
sharing scheme.”

6

Annual Report & Accounts 2010

Northumbria University is to honour 
Sir Michael Darrington for his 
outstanding contribution to the food 
industry and business ethics. We 
congratulate Ian and Michael on 
these well-deserved honours.

Prospects

The growth opportunities for Greggs 
across the UK remain significant 
and our plans to open at least 600 
new shops are well on track. Our 
investment in an even more efficient 
supply chain continues to make 
good progress and will support our 
accelerated growth.

2011 will present some significant 
challenges to UK retailers given the 
prevailing economic environment. 
However, I believe that our 
reputation for great value, the 
growing benefits of our move to 
a centrally run business and our  
cash-generative model mean that 
we are well placed to make  
progress despite these challenges.

The strategy that we set out in 2009 
has been the basis of our record 
results in 2010. Our programme 
of accelerated expansion has 
progressed ahead of our original 
plan, delivering a record 68 net 
new shops and making Greggs 
accessible to more customers 
across the UK. All of this gives me 
confidence in Greggs’ long term 
prospects as we continue to pursue 
our proven strategy for growth.

Derek Netherton 
Chairman 
16 March 2011

The Board

We welcome Jonathan Jowett, who 
joined Greggs in April 2010 and 
took over as Company Secretary at 
our AGM in May. I would like to take 
this opportunity to thank Andrew 
Davison of Muckle LLP for his 
service as Company Secretary  
since 1995, and I am delighted that 
he is continuing his long association 
with Greggs as Chairman of the 
trustees of the Greggs Foundation 
and as a pension trustee.

People

I cannot thank our staff enough 
for the enthusiasm and passion 
that they display throughout the 
business, with our customers and 
in the support that they give to the 
wider community.

I am delighted that 16,800 qualifying 
employees are sharing in a record 
£5.8 million through our long-
established profit sharing scheme in 
recognition of the efforts they have 
all made to deliver record results 
under very challenging trading 
conditions.

Ian Gregg OBE and 
Sir Michael Darrington

We are delighted that our former 
Chairman Ian Gregg OBE and 
former Group Managing Director Sir 
Michael Darrington are both to be 
honoured with Doctorates of Civil 
Law.

Newcastle University is to recognise 
Ian for his outstanding contributions 
in building this business and 
establishing its strong commitment 
to social responsibility, notably 
through the introduction of our 
profit sharing scheme in 1985 and 
the establishment of the Greggs 
Foundation in 1987. 

Ian Gregg OBE

Sir Michael Darrington

7

 
 
 
 
Chief Executive’s Report

Trading performance

Despite the tough trading 
conditions facing high streets 
across the UK in 2010 we grew total 
sales by 2.1 per cent compared 
with the equivalent 52 week period 
in 2009, including a 0.2 per cent 
increase in like-for-like sales. 
Trading grew more diffi cult in 
the second half of the year, and 
particularly in the fi nal quarter, not 
helped by heavy snowfalls across 
the country in November and 
December.

Whilst UK consumers continue to 
experience a very testing climate, 
one certainty is that they will 
increasingly seek out great value, 
for which Greggs has a very strong 
reputation. We have continued to 
listen to our customers’ needs and 
responded by providing them with 
exceptional promotions, such as 
our breakfast meal deal offering 
coffee or tea combined with bacon 
or sausage in a roll. At only £1.99 
this represents outstanding value 
compared with other food-on-the-
go retailers and we have now sold 
more than 10 million breakfast rolls 
since they were launched.

We also recognised that there 
was an opportunity to strengthen 
our offer in the growing breakfast 
market and have now extended our 
breakfast offer to include porridge, 
croissants, pain au chocolat, fruit 
smoothies, and cheese and bacon 
wraps, and made this the focus of 
our current marketing campaign 
for Greggs as ‘The home of fresh 
baking’.

Another feature of the year was the 
strong growth of hot drinks as we 
rolled out more coffee machines 

serving freshly ground Fairtrade 
coffee. Great quality coffee at a 
price some 40 per cent below that 
of branded coffee operators is 
proving increasingly popular with 
our customers. This is now available 
in 1,100 of our shops and we will 
complete the roll-out in 2011.

During the year we were delighted 
to receive a number of awards, 
including being voted Best Bakery 
and Sandwich Chain in Best 
Magazine’s British Food Awards, 
while our mince pies were named 
the UK’s best by Woman magazine.

Growing margins

Our operating margin increased by 
0.5 per cent compared with that in 
2009, which was affected by the 
additional costs of a 53rd week. 
Other key drivers of our improved 
performance in 2010 included:

•  supply chain savings from 

implementation of our strategy

•  improved scheduling of labour 

•  a reduction in shop waste

• better buying

•  a full year’s benefi t from our 

actions in 2009 to reorganise the 
business, harmonise our product 
range and create a single brand.

Our shops

During 2010 we broke our previous 
records for the numbers of both net 
shop openings and shop refi ts. 
We opened a total of 93 new shops, 
delivering a net increase of 68 after 
25 closures, and giving us a total of 
1,487 shops at 1 January 2011.

“ Record numbers of shop 
openings and investment in 
refurbishments, including 
the roll-out of our new shop 
design, is making the shopping 
experience even more 
accessible and enjoyable 
for both new and existing 
customers. Our focus on great 
value ensures that we are well 
positioned for the harsh times 
prevailing in the wider economy, 
while our drive to improve 
effi ciency has continued 
to deliver profi table growth for 
the benefi t of all stakeholders 
in the business.” 

8

Annual Report & Accounts 2010

We have a healthy pipeline of new 
shops coming through and expect 
to add approximately 80 net new 
shops in the course of 2011.  
The current property market 
conditions have increased the 
availability of more attractive sites 
and are encouraging landlords to 
take a more realistic view on rents. 

We completed 135 shop 
refurbishments in 2010, including 
28 using our new shop design. 
In the current year we will extend 
these new design refits outside the 
London area with plans to refit a 
total of 60 across the UK in 2011. 
We have seen good returns on 
capital for our refits in 2010 and we 
plan to increase the total number of 
shop refits to 160 during 2011.

Our supply chain

One of our unique points of 
difference is that we make the 
majority of the food we sell.  
As bakers we are at the very 
heart of producing our food and 
therefore much closer than most 
of our competitors to the source of 
origin of our products. We use our 
bakery skills and expertise to make 
great tasting food that offers our 
customers great value.

Supplying the majority of our own 
food means we are closer to the 
ingredients and recipes and are 
passionate about the quality of the 
products we make. This difference 
means that we know what’s 
happening with our food right 
through from ‘wheat to eat’.

The flexibility and controls that result 
from having our own supply chain 
are significant strengths that we 
are continuing to build on. Over the 
course of 2010 we have continued 
to improve our supply chain 
efficiency and this has allowed us to 
increase the number  

of shops that can be supplied from 
our existing bakeries. In 2009 we 
outlined a five year plan to reduce 
the cost of supply to our shops by 
£10 million. Through consolidation 
of manufacturing into centres of 
excellence and investment in more 
efficient processes we delivered 
savings of £1.4 million in 2010, 
ahead of our original plan.

Construction of our new bakery at 
Balliol Park in Newcastle upon Tyne 
is progressing well. The new facility 
will be open and fully operational in 
the second half of 2011, increasing 
standards, efficiency and capacity 
when compared with our old 
Newcastle bakery. We currently 
anticipate that this relocation may 
result in a £1 million one-off charge 
in 2011. Building has also started 
at our new centre of excellence 
for confectionery at Penrith, which 
is due to become operational in 
September 2011.

We have also secured land and 
planning permission to construct a 
new bakery in Wiltshire to support 
our future growth plans in the South 
West.

New operating structure

2010 was our first full year with our 
new central structure in place.  
This has enabled increased 
capacity to open new shops, 
greater speed in reacting to market 
conditions, tighter cost controls, 
efficiency savings and simplicity in 
running our business.

We have benefited from economies 
of scale in purchasing and have 
reduced costs through harmonising 
work practices in our supply chain. 
Our marketing campaigns have 
increased in impact and cost 
effectiveness as the adoption of a 
single national brand means that 
they now benefit all our shops.

In the coming year there is more 
scope to improve our business 
even further and we have embarked 
on three major change programmes 
in order to drive sales and reduce 
costs.

Capital expenditure

Our total capital expenditure in 
2010 was £45.6 million (2009: £30.3 
million) reflecting our accelerated 
rate of new shop openings and 
refits, and the commencement of 
investment in our supply chain to 
support future growth. In 2011 we 
plan to increase capital expenditure 
to around £60 million, as we further 
accelerate the rate of new shop 
openings, around half of which 
are likely to be in the new shop 
design, complete even more 
refurbishments, and undertake 
the major phase of investment in 
our new Newcastle and Penrith 
bakeries.

This investment programme reflects 
our strong confidence in the future 
prospects of the business, and will 
be funded from our own cash flow.

Corporate Social 
Responsibility

I am really proud that in 2010 our 
people have been outstanding 
once again at going that extra mile 
to do more for those who are less 
fortunate. We are also blessed 
with fantastic customers whose 
generosity during very difficult times 
is remarkable. For this I would 
like to thank our people and our 
customers so much for everything 
that they do to make such a 
difference to other people’s lives. 
As an example of this we raised 
an amazing £904,850 for the BBC 
Children in Need appeal during 
2010, and also made significant 
donations to the Haiti and Pakistan 
disaster appeals.

9

 
 
 
 
Chief Executive’s report continued

The community

The Greggs Breakfast Clubs 
are now in their eleventh year of 
operation, providing primary school 
children in disadvantaged areas 
with free, nutritious breakfasts 
each day. We supply fresh bread 
from our local shops for toast, 
along with funding for cereals, fruit 
and equipment. By developing 
partnerships with other companies 
we were able to exceed our target 
of reaching 150 Breakfast Clubs in 
2010, and by the end of the year 
we had a total of 161, feeding more 
than 7,000 children each day. The 
success of the Clubs now being 
supported by other organisations, 
using the Greggs model, has 
encouraged us to set a new goal of 
expanding to 300 Breakfast Clubs 
as quickly as suitable partnerships 
can be developed.

The Greggs Operating Board 
also made a fantastic effort to 
raise money for charity, with all its 
members taking part in The Great 
Bakery Bike Ride, which attracted 
nearly 100 participants and raised 
£90,000 in aid of Children in Need 
and Greggs Breakfast Clubs. Our 
Finance Director Richard Hutton, 
along with Robin Leaver and Paul 
Ryan, covered a remarkable 900 
miles in ten days.

During the year we were honoured 
to receive a Gold award in the 
Health & Wellbeing category of 
The Food and Drink Federation 
Community Partnership Awards. 

The Greggs Foundation has 
continued its outstanding work, 
giving a record £1.4 million in 
grants to charitable and community 
organisations in the areas where we 

operate. In 2010 we launched the 
first Foundation Week in our shops, 
which raised £66,000 in support of 
these initiatives. I continue to be 
hugely impressed with the Greggs 
Foundation and the great work it 
does across the UK.

Our food

We removed all artificial colours, 
HVOs (hydrogenated vegetable 
oils) and added trans fats from our 
own products by the end of 2009. 
Last year we removed artificial 
flavours from the majority of our 
products and work is continuing 
to remove them completely. We 
have worked relentlessly to try 
and ensure that in making these 
changes our customers do not 
experience any change in the great 
taste of the products they love.

The environment

We have made significant progress 
in reducing the amount of food 
waste sent to landfill and achieved 
a 36 per cent reduction in the year. 
Following the installation of smart 
meters designed to facilitate better 
monitoring and control of our 
energy usage we have achieved 
a reduction in overall energy 
consumption as measured on a per 
shop basis.

The Greggs Foundation has 
continued to provide support 
of £50,000 per annum to the 
Community Foundation’s innovative 
LEAF project, which makes grants 
to charitable organisations to 
encourage people to take action on 
global environmental issues and to 
promote sustainable living.

BBC Children in Need

Greggs Breakfast Clubs

10

Annual Report & Accounts 2010

The Great Bakery Bike Ride

Corporate Social Responsibility has 
always been important to Greggs 
and is deeply rooted in our culture. 
I am grateful to all our people 
for their continued determination 
to put something back into the 
communities where we operate, 
and congratulate them on their 
achievements during the year.

These and other issues are covered 
in greater depth in our Corporate 
Social Responsibility Report on 
pages 12 – 17.

Our people

I am profoundly grateful to our 
people for everything they do to 
serve our customers each day. 
There could be no better illustration 
of the extraordinary spirit and 
commitment of our people than the 
example of the shop manager in 
Scotland who was so determined 
to open her shop during the severe 
snow in December that she walked 
14 miles to get there and ended 
the working day by walking another 
14 miles home. At the same time 
workers who were unable to get 
home slept in our bakeries in 
order to keep our supply chain 
functioning for our customers.

I am particularly pleased that this 
year our staff are sharing a record 
£5.8 million through our profit 
sharing scheme, which has been 
distributing 10 per cent of our 
profits each year since its inception 
in 1985.

Outlook for 2011

The year ahead will continue to 
be challenging with rising global 
commodity prices being reflected 
in significant upward pressure on 
many of the key ingredient costs 
of all food producers. However, we 
expect to continue making Greggs 
even more efficient and as part of 
this we are dedicating resources 
to indentify and unlock further cost 
savings throughout the business.

Total sales in the year ahead will 
benefit from a growing contribution 
from new selling space as our 
expansion programme accelerates, 
with the opening of around 80 
net new shops during the year, 
financed from our own strong 
cash flow. In addition to the total 
sales growth I believe marginally 
positive like-for-like growth during 
the year is achievable. Performance 
in the year to date is in line with 
our expectations, with total sales 

for the ten weeks ended 12 March 
2011 increasing by 3.8 per cent, 
including like-for-like sales of 0.4 
per cent. Whilst profits in the first 
half will have to bear the impact 
of additional bank holidays when 
compared to 2010 we expect the 
year as a whole to be one of further 
progress for Greggs.

Greggs has a clear vision: “To be 
the number one for sandwiches 
and savouries from a united team 
who are passionate about being 
the best in bakery”. By virtue 
of its strong value positioning, 
excellent products, outstanding 
staff and clear strategy for growth, 
with increasing investment in our 
shops and supply chain funded 
from our own cash flow I believe 
that Greggs is well placed for the 
challenges ahead. I look forward to 
giving consumers greater choice by 
opening more shops across the UK, 
and to Greggs continuing to make 
a strong contribution to society as 
a whole through adherence to our 
long-established family values.

Kennedy McMeikan 
Chief Executive 
16 March 2011

11

 
 
Corporate Social Responsibility

Greggs cares

Greggs is a company that cares 
deeply about making a difference 
to the lives of people in our local 
communities. We made terrific 
progress in this area in 2010 with a 
record-breaking year in terms of the 
amount of money our customers 
and staff raised in support of local 
communities, through company-
led activities and the Greggs 
Foundation. 

We care that our people are well 
looked after and rewarded for their 
hard work and we have made really 
good progress against our ‘great 
place to work’ targets.

We want our customers to 
experience quality bakery food 
they can trust at affordable prices. 
We made good progress over the 
year in reducing salt and fat in our 
products but still have more to do 
on making nutritional information 
more easily available for bread,  
rolls and confectionery lines. 

In 2010, we diverted more waste 
from landfill, but there remain 
plenty of opportunities to do more 
for the environment, particularly 
in reducing carbon, which we will 
continue to focus on in the year 
ahead. 

A record year of 
fundraising!  
We helped raise 
and donate over 
£2.7 million

12

Annual Report & Accounts 2010

Our Achievements in 2010

•  We shared 10 per cent of our 

profi ts, a record £5.8 million, with 
our people through our national 
profi t share scheme, enabling 
them to share in the success of 
the company they work so 
hard for.

•  We now have 161 Breakfast 

Clubs, giving over 7,000 children 
a nutritious breakfast, free, 
every day. 

•  We grew the number of Greggs 

Breakfast Clubs* from 125 to 151. 
In addition, by partnering with 
other organisations (Beachcroft 
LLP, the CBI, Middlesbrough 
Council and RBS) we have 
been able to open another ten 
Breakfast Clubs. We would like 
to thank our co-sponsors for their 
fantastic support of the Breakfast 
Club initiative. 

•  In 2010 we partnered with 

Expochef to deliver healthier 
eating awareness sessions in 
primary schools. We sponsored 
56 such events in our Breakfast 
Club schools.

•  A record year of fundraising! 
We helped raise and donate
over £2.7 million:

-  for the fi fth year running, Greggs 

supported the BBC Children 
in Need campaign. Thanks to 
the hard work and generosity 
of our people and customers, 
we substantially increased our 
total raised to £904,850 in 2010, 
making Greggs the second 
largest corporate contributor to 
BBC Children in Need; 

-  our Great Bakery Bike Ride 

raised £90,000. A team from 
Greggs, led by Finance Director 
Richard Hutton, cycled over 

900 miles in ten days on a route 
covering all ten Greggs regional 
bakeries and distribution sites; 

-  we held our fi rst ever Foundation 
Week, raising over £66,000 for 
the Greggs Foundation and 
resulting in donations to 50 
charities chosen by our staff and 
customers. Foundation Week 
will now become an annual 
event in the Greggs calendar; 
and

-  following the earthquake 

disaster in Haiti our staff and 
customers raised £186,000 for 
the offi cial campaign, followed 
by a further £92,000 for the 
Pakistan fl oods appeal.

•  We launched two major 

initiatives in conjunction with 
other businesess, to help break 
the cycle of unemployment for 
marginalised groups - a work 
placement programme for 
homeless people and a training 
course for women offenders 
in prison, aiming to give them 
skills to help them fi nd future 
employment.

•  We removed artifi cial fl avours from 
the majority of products we make 
ourselves without impacting taste, 
which is a key concern for our 
customers.

•  We diverted an additional 36 per 
cent of our waste from landfi ll, 
signifi cantly exceeding our target 
of 10 per cent, meaning that in 
2010, 49 per cent of our total 
waste was diverted from landfi ll.

•  We reduced our Carbon Footprint 
(tonnes of CO2e) by 5 per cent on 
a per shop basis. 

* Greggs Breakfast Clubs give primary school children in deprived areas 
a nutritious free breakfast every day. Greggs provide the equipment,
bread and money to purchase cereal, milk, etc, and the clubs are
operated by the school and parent volunteers.

•  Our people continued to organise 

and take part in Big Tidy Up 
Events across England, Scotland 
and Wales, in conjunction with 
Keep Britain Tidy, clearing litter 
from local areas. 

Thank you to our 
Breakfast Club partners

Recognition:

The Greggs Breakfast Club 
scheme was awarded Gold status 
by the Food and Drink Federation 
Community Awards, in the Health 
& Wellbeing category.

Greggs Breakfast Clubs 
featured as one of fi ve exemplar 
companies at the Business in the 
Community Annual Leadership 
Summit in 2010. The event was 
hosted by HRH The Prince of 
Wales and was attended by 
Prime Minister David Cameron 
and over 200 business leaders 
from around the UK. 

Greggs CEO Kennedy McMeikan 
was appointed as HRH The 
Prince of Wales Ambassador for 
the North East, in recognition of 
his leadership and commitment 
to local communities.

13

 
 
 
 
Progress against our 2010 targets

Making a difference
to our communities.

We will run our fi rst ever 
national fundraising initiative for 
the Greggs Foundation. 

We will grow the number of 
Breakfast Clubs to at least 150, 
providing a free, nutritious 
breakfast to more than 7,000 
pupils each school day. We will 
develop partnerships with other 
organisations to enable further 
growth of the breakfast club 
scheme.

  In 2010 we ran our fi rst  
Foundation Week, with our 
people and customers raising 
£66,000!

For the fi fth year we will engage 
our staff and customers in 
a major national fundraising 
campaign to support the BBC 
Children in Need appeal. 

   2010 was a record year of 
fund-raising by Greggs, 
smashing our 2009 total by 
raising an incredible £904,850 
for BBC Children in Need. 
This takes our fi ve year total 
for BBC Children in Need to an 
amazing £2.5 million. 

We will pilot initiatives to use 
our skills as a major employer 
to help break the cycle of 
unemployment for marginalised 
groups in communities. 

  In 2010 we piloted two initiatives. 
Firstly, we developed a training 
skills course for women 
offenders in Low Newton Prison, 
in partnership with fi ve other 
businesses in the North East; 
secondly Greggs were one of 
the founding companies working 
with the Cyreniens and other 
businesses on a work placement 
programme for homeless 
people. Both initiatives are being 
repeated in 2011.

In 2010 we achieved a total of 
151 (Greggs) Breakfast Clubs. 
Our new partnership model 
brings other businesses on 
board and has already secured 
an additional ten Breakfast 
Clubs, enabling us to set a 
target of 180 Breakfast Clubs by 
the end of 2011. 

We will sponsor Expochef Healthy 
Food events in 60 Breakfast Club 
schools in order to promote 
better understanding of healthy 
diets amongst pupils and their 
families. 

  56 Expochef events took place 
in 2010, with the remaining four 
completed in January 2011. 
Over 3,500 primary school 
children benefi ted from the 
Expochef programme.

We will donate at least 1 per 
cent of profi ts to the grant-
making and Breakfast Club 
programmes of the Greggs 
Foundation. 

  The Greggs Foundation is 
integral to the Company and 
we are very pleased to report 
continued commitment to our 
Foundation with 1.2 per cent of 
pre-tax profi ts donated to it in 
2010. 

14

Our targets for 2011:

•  We will extend the Greggs 
Breakfast Club scheme
to 180 supported clubs 

•  We will donate at least 1 per cent 

of profi ts to the grant-making
and Breakfast Club programmes 
of the Greggs Foundation

•  We will hold our second national 
fund-raising week for the Greggs 
Foundation, aiming to raise over 
£70,000

•  For the sixth year running we will 
engage our staff and customers
in a major national fund-raising 
campaign to support the BBC
Children in Need appeal

•  We will support Greggs-

sponsored fun runs and a second 
Great Bakery Bike Ride
to help more of our people to 
fund-raise through exercise-
related activities

•  We will divert an increased 

proportion of our unsold food
to local charities

•  We will continue to roll out 
initiatives to help break the
cycle of unemployment for 
marginalised groups in our 
communities, utilising our skills as 
a major employer

Over 3,500 primary school children 
benefi tted from the Expochef 
programme

Annual Report & Accounts 2010

A great place to work.

In the 2010 Employee Opinion 
Survey (EOS) our target is that 
75 per cent of our employees 
participate in the survey 
and we improve on our 2008 
engagement score of 72
per cent. 

From 2010 we committed to 
conducting an annual survey, 
seeking employees’ feedback 
on key areas of communication, 
teamwork and training & 
development. In 2010, 72 
per cent of our employees 
completed the survey, a little 
short of the 75 per cent target. 
We maintained our engagement 
score of 72 per cent with overall 
satisfaction amongst our people 
remaining high, evidenced by 
our low labour turnover rates and 
long service of employees.

Through opening 50-60 new 
shops in 2010 we will create 
circa 500-600 new jobs. 

In opening a net additional 68 
shops around the UK, we have 
created more than 650 new retail 
jobs for local people. 

We will move from a regional to 
a national profi t share scheme to 
ensure every person working at 
Greggs shares in the Company’s 
success. 

  In 2010, a record £5.8 million 
was shared amongst eligible 
employees, with 16,800 people 
benefi ting.

We will enhance our 
management skills and 
development by delivering a 
‘coaching skills’ programme 
and a ‘high performing teams’ 
programme in 2010.

  In the fi rst quarter of 2010 we ran 
a Coaching Skills programme 
for senior managers, which 
will continue to run in 2011. 
We also ran a series of High 
Performing Team training 
sessions across the Company, 
providing our people with skills 
and techniques for effective 
teamworking. 

We will review and improve our 
apprentice scheme and aim to 
have 30 bakery apprenticeships 
in place by the end of 2010. 

  We are delighted to report that 
in 2010, seven apprentices 
graduated from the current 
training programme. During 
2010 we completed the review 
of our apprentice scheme. 
The review highlighted that the 
requirement for apprenticeships 
would be 10-15 and therefore 
we have revised our target and 
are now ready to launch the 
new apprentice scheme in 2011. 

Our targets for 2011:

•  We will continue to share 10 per 
cent of our profi ts with our people

•  In our 2011 EOS survey we aim to 
achieve an engagement score of 
73 per cent or more

•  We will improve communication 

for our people, to achieve
the following targets:

-  More than two thirds of

our people feel they have
the opportunity to contribute 
their views on issues that 
affect them

-  More than two thirds of our 

supply teams feel that
their line manager/supervisor 
shares important
knowledge and information 
with them

•  We will create over 700 new retail 

jobs through our new shop
opening programme

•  We will reduce our accidents 

by 5 per cent from our Accident 
Incident Rate of 2010

•  We will recruit and develop 10 - 
15 new Bakery Apprentices 

•  We will encourage our 650 

graded managers to commit
one working day to volunteer their 
skills and expertise to support
a local community or 
environmental project

15

Progress against our 
2010 targets continued

Quality, fresh bakery 
food our customers 
can trust.

We will remove ALL artifi cial 
fl avours from the products we 
make by the middle of 2010.

 We have made signifi cant 
progress against this target and 
the majority of Greggs food 
does not now contain artifi cial 
fl avours. Work will continue in 
2011 to remove artifi cial fl avours 
from the last remaining products 
without changing the taste of our 
much loved products, which is a 
key consideration for customers.

 Nutritional information will be 
available to all our customers 
in all our shops for our national 
bread & rolls and confectionery 
ranges, so that our entire 
national product range is 
completed by the end of 2010. 

  In each Greggs shop, 
customers have access to 
leafl ets detailing the nutritional 
values for our national ranges 
of sandwiches, savouries and 
drinks, which represent over 
75 per cent of purchases. 
However, in 2010 we were not 
able to complete the work to 
make the same information 
available in our shops for bread 
and confectionery products. 
Customers can telephone 
our customer contact team to 
request nutritional information 
on any of our products, but 
we want to make this available 
to them in our shops and will 
continue to work on this in 2011.

We will reduce the salt, fat and 
saturated fat content for each of 
our products, working towards 
the Food Standards Agency’s 
2012 targets. 

 We have met the FSA’s salt 
reduction targets for 2012 
ahead of target for our national 
bread lines. Work has been 
ongoing throughout the year to 
progressively reduce the salt, fat 
and saturated fat content of our 
other products. This continues 
to be done without adversely 
affecting the taste or quality 
of our products, a signifi cant 
consideration for our customers. 

Our targets for 2011:

•  We will provide nutritional 

information in our shops for our 
full national product range

•  We will continue to reduce salt 
content, working towards the
FSA/DoH 2012 targets, without 
compromising the great taste
and quality of our food

•  We will continue to reduce fat 
content without compromising
the great taste and quality of
our food

•  We will continue to remove the 
last artifi cial fl avours from the
products we make ourselves

•  We will agree and issue an

ethical sourcing policy

•  We will promote a better 

understanding of balanced diets

16

 
 
 
Annual Report & Accounts 2010

We will aim to divert an 
additional 10 per cent of waste 
from landfi ll, building on the 
18 per cent diversion achieved 
in 2009 and the 20 per cent 
diversion achieved in 2008. 

 We are pleased to report that we 
exceeded this target, diverting 
an additional 36 per cent of 
waste from landfi ll in 2010.

We will aim to reduce our bakery 
waste by 10 per cent (on a per 
shop basis). 

 We weren’t able to meet this 
target in 2010, however for 2011 
we have plans to implement 
bakery and shop waste 
monitoring processes into all our 
bakeries, and this target will be 
carried forward.

Our targets for 2011:

•  We will achieve a 5 per cent 
reduction in our 2010 carbon 
footprint (measured in tonnes of 
CO2e per shop), as part of our 
target of 25 per cent reduction 
per shop by the end of 2015

•  We will divert a further 10 per 
cent of waste from landfi ll 

•  We will achieve a 3 per cent 

reduction in total energy usage 
in our shops and bakeries 
(measured in tonnes of CO2e 
per shop)

•  We will achieve a 2.5 per cent 
reduction over the next three 
years in carbon generated by our 
distribution activity (measured in 
tonnes of CO2e per km per shop)

We will continue to work with 
Keep Britain Tidy to encourage 
responsible disposal of litter. 

•  We will reduce our bakery waste 
by 5 per cent (on a per shop 
basis)

•  We will trial an electric car 

for six months to get a better 
understanding of how this could 
help reduce our future carbon 
footprint

•  We will explore involvement with 
the Rivers Trust to investigate 
ways in which we can support 
improvements to the environment

 Our strong relationship with 
Keep Britain Tidy continues and 
during the year we organised a 
number of ‘Big Tidy Up’ events 
throughout the country; we 
became founding participants in 
the ‘Love Where You Live’ litter 
awareness programme; and our 
Chief Executive was a keynote 
speaker at the Keep Britain Tidy 
Annual Conference 2010. We 
will continue to work closely with 
Keep Britain Tidy in the year 
ahead. 

Reducing our
impact on the world 
around us.

We will aim to achieve a 25 per 
cent reduction of our carbon 
footprint by 2015 (measured in 
tonnes of CO2e per shop). 

 We made some progress in 
2010 towards the 2015 target, 
reducing our overall carbon 
footprint by 5 per cent as per the 
above measure. We recognise 
there is still much more to do.

We will aim to achieve a 2.5 
per cent reduction in carbon 
generated by our distribution 
activity. 

 We weren’t able to make as 
much progress as we would 
have liked, achieving a 1 per 
cent reduction. We remain 
committed to reducing carbon 
emissions from our distribution 
activities and have carried this 
commitment forward.

We will aim to achieve a 5 per 
cent reduction in energy usage 
per shop against our 2009 
consumption. 

 We achieved a small reduction 
in energy usage per shop of 1 
per cent. Our challenge was to 
make sure we could accurately 
monitor shop energy usage 
across all of our 1,487 shops, so 
in 2010 we focused on installing 
smart meters, which are now 
in virtually all of our shops. In 
2011, we will focus our attention 
on further reducing the amount 
of energy used across the 
business, measured on a per 
shop basis.

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
Key Performance Indicators

KPI 

Definition 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010

(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
  (e)* 
  (f)* 
  (g)* 

3.3% 
0.5% 
1.3% 
£30.0m 
£42.2m 
7.7% 
26.2p 

6.4% 
5.3% 
2.4% 
£42.3m 
£47.7m 
8.1% 
32.0p 

7.1% 
4.4% 
3.0% 
£40.8m 
£44.3m 
7.1% 
30.6p 

4.8%^ 
0.8% 
0.7% 
£30.3m 
£48.4m 
7.4% 
34.0p 

0.6%^
0.2%
4.8%
£45.6m
£52.4m
7.9%
37.3p

Total sales growth 
Like–for–like sales growth 
Growth in net shop numbers 
Capital expenditure 
Operating profit 
Operating margin 
Diluted earnings per share 
(adjusted for ten for one share 
split which took place in 2009)

Definitions:

(a) Total sales growth is the percentage year on year change in total sales for the Group.

(b)  Like-for-like sales growth compares year on year cash sales in our ‘core’ shops, i.e. it is not distorted by shop 
openings or closures. Refitted shops are included in the like-for-like comparison unless there has been a 
significant change in the trading space. Like-for-like sales growth includes selling price inflation.

(c)  Growth in net shop numbers represents the percentage increase in number of shops in operation at the end  

of the year.

(d) Capital expenditure is the total amount incurred in the year on investment in tangible fixed assets.

(e) Operating profit reflects the performance of the Group before financing and taxation impacts.

(f)  Operating margin shows the operating profitability of the Group as a percentage of its sales.

(g)  Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing profit attributable to shareholders (i.e. profit after taxation) 

by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year after adjusting for the 
effect of own shares held and all dilutive potential ordinary shares (which comprise share options granted to 
employees).

     ^  2009 was a 53 week year, impacting on total sales growth for that year and the year immediately following. 

Total sales growth for 2010 compared with the equivalent 52 week period in 2009 was 2.1 per cent. Total 
sales growth for 2009, excluding the 53rd week was 3.2%. Like-for-like sales growth is unaffected by a 53 
week year. 

*  Operating profit, operating margin and diluted earnings per share – in order to show each of these KPI 

trends on a comparable basis the figures shown are the underlying figures excluding the impact of any one-
off items. One-off items have occurred as follows:

  2006 - Bakers Oven restructuring costs of £3.5m; 
  2007 - one-off property gains of £2.2m; 
  2008 -  exceptional credit of £4.3m, comprising £1.1m profit on disposal of properties, £6.9m curtailment  
gain relating to the defined benefit pension scheme and a restructuring charge of £3.7m.

18

 
 
 
 
 
Annual Report & Accounts 2010

19

Corporate Governance

Roger Whiteside

Raymond Reynolds

Iain Ferguson

Julie Baddeley

The Board recognises the 
importance of, and is committed 
to, high standards of corporate 
governance, and to integrity and 
high ethical standards in all of its 
business dealings.

The Board considers that it has 
complied, throughout the year 
under review, with the principles of 
governance set out in Section 1 of 
the Combined Code on corporate 
governance published by the 
Financial Reporting Council (the 
‘Combined Code’) effective during 
the financial year.

The following statements, together 
with the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report on pages 72 to 83 describe 
how the relevant principles and 
provisions of the Combined Code 
were applied to the Company in 
2010 and will be relevant to the 
Company for the 2011 financial year.  

20

The Board

There were no changes to the Board 
during the period.

The Board currently comprises the 
Chairman, three executive and four 
non-executive directors as follows:

Derek Netherton (Chairman), 
66, spent his career in investment 
banking and retired in 1996 from his 
position as joint head of corporate 
finance at J Henry Schroder & Co 
Limited. He is a non-executive 
director of St James’s Place plc. 
He was appointed to the Board on 
1 March 2002 and was appointed 
Chairman in August of the same 
year. Derek was appointed as Chair 
of Opera North on 17 June 2010. 
The Board does not consider that 
this new commitment will have any 
adverse impact on his ability to 
perform his duties as Chairman of 
the Company. He is Chairman of the 
Nominations Committee.

Kennedy McMeikan (Chief 
Executive), 45, joined the Board 
on 1 June 2008 and became Chief 
Executive of the Company on 1 
August 2008. Kennedy was Retail  

Director of J Sainsbury plc from 
2005-2008. Prior to this, he had 
spent 14 years at Tesco. Appointed 
Chief Executive of Tesco in Japan 
in 2004 he had previously been 
Chief Executive of Europa Foods 
convenience store business following 
its acquisition by Tesco in 2002. He 
began his career at Sears UK in 
1986, after five years’ service in the 
Royal Navy. In 2010 Kennedy was 
appointed as HRH The Prince of 
Wales ambassador for the North East.

Richard Hutton FCA (Finance 
Director), 42, was appointed to 
the Board on 13 March 2006. He 
qualified as a chartered accountant 
with KPMG and gained career 
experience with Procter & Gamble 
before joining Greggs in 1998. He 
was appointed Finance Director on 
10 May 2006.

Raymond Reynolds (Retail 
Director), 51, was appointed to 
the Board as Retail Director on 18 
December 2006. He joined Greggs 
in retail management in 1986. 
During the late 1990s, as general 
manager, he built a significant 
new business for Greggs in the 
Edinburgh region, and in 2002 he 
was appointed Managing Director  
of Greggs of Scotland.

 
 
Annual Report & Accounts 2010

Bob Bennett

Derek Netherton

Kennedy McMeikan

Richard Hutton

Bob Bennett (Senior Independent 
Director), 63, was appointed to 
the Board in December 2003. He 
trained as a chartered accountant 
with Spicer & Pegler and was Group 
Finance Director of Northern Rock 
plc from 1993 until his retirement 
at the end of January 2007. He is 
a member of the Nominations and 
Remuneration Committees; he 
has been Chairman of the Audit 
Committee since 2004 and became 
the Senior Independent Director in 
2008.

Julie Baddeley, 59, was appointed 
to the Board in March 2005. 
She has held senior executive 
roles in Woolwich plc (where she 
was responsible for Information 
Technology and Human 
Resources), Accenture and Sema 
Consulting. Julie is a non-executive 
director of Chrysalis VCT plc, 
and is an Associate Fellow of the 
Said Business School, Oxford. 
Julie has recently been invited 
to join the Board of Sustain, an 

organisation providing consultancy 
services on carbon reduction. This 
appointment will be effective from 
1 April 2011. Julie is a member 
of the Nominations and Audit 
Committees and has been Chair of 
the Remuneration Committee since 
2005.

Roger Whiteside, 52, joined the 
Board on 17 March 2008. Roger is 
Managing Director of the Leased 
division of Punch Taverns plc. He 
was Chief Executive of the Thresher 
Group off-licence chain from 2004 
to 2007. Prior to this, he was one 
of the founding team of Ocado, the 
innovative online grocer operating 
in partnership with Waitrose, and 
served as Joint Managing Director 
from 2000 to 2004. He began his 
career at Marks & Spencer, where 
he spent 20 years, ultimately 
becoming head of its Food 
Business. Roger is a member of the 
Nominations, Remuneration and 
Audit Committees of the Board. 

Iain Ferguson, 55, joined the 
Board on 31 March 2009. Iain 
was Chief Executive of Tate & 
Lyle plc until October 2009. 
Previously, he worked for Unilever 
where he held a number of senior 
executive positions. He is a 
former Commissioner on the UK 
Government’s Policy Commission 
on the Future of Farming and Food 
and also a former President of the 
Institute of Grocery Distribution. 
He was, until 31 December 2008, 
President of the UK Food and Drink 
Federation. He is currently a non-
executive director of Balfour Beatty 
plc and Berendson plc, a member 
of the PricewaterhouseCoopers 
(UK) Advisory Board, Honorary Vice 
President of the British Nutrition 
Foundation and lead Non-Executive 
Director of the DEFRA Management 
Committee. Iain is a member of the 
Nominations, Remuneration and 
Audit Committees of the Board.

21

 
Corporate Governance continued

On 12 May 2010 Andrew Davison stepped down as Company Secretary. He was replaced by Jonathan Jowett, 
LL.M., who was appointed as Company Secretary and General Counsel. Jonathan qualified as a solicitor 
in 1989, and prior to joining the Company, held similar positions in international branded and own-brand 
manufacturing companies listed in London and on overseas stock exchanges. He sits on the Editorial Board of 
the International In-House Counsel Journal.

Effectiveness

The Board, under the chairmanship of Derek Netherton, meets regularly to discharge its duties. At these 
meetings, it reviews Group strategy, performance, resources, risk management and other matters reserved for 
the Board. Whilst the executive responsibility for running the Company’s business rests ultimately with the Chief 
Executive, Kennedy McMeikan, the non-executive directors ensure that the strategies proposed by the executive 
directors are fully discussed and critically examined prior to adoption. During 2010, the scheduled Board and 
Committee meetings, and the number of meetings attended by each current director were as follows:

Main Board

Audit  
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

Nominations 
Committee

Number of meetings held
Derek Netherton

Kennedy McMeikan

Richard Hutton

Raymond Reynolds

Julie Baddeley

Bob Bennett

Roger Whiteside

 Iain Ferguson

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

4

–

–

–

–

4

4

4

4

5

–

–

–

–

5

5

5

5

2

2

2

–

–

2

2

2

2

In addition, the non-executive directors meet formally twice each year and from time to time, as required.

22

 
Annual Report & Accounts 2010

The Board has a policy on the 
separation of the roles of the 
Chairman and the Chief Executive. 
The Chairman sets the agenda for 
Board meetings and ensures that 
the Board is supplied, in a timely 
manner, with information in a form 
and of a quality appropriate to 
enable it to discharge its duties.  
The Board considers that it 
effectively leads and controls 
the Company. All directors take 
decisions objectively and in the 
interests of the Company.  
The non-executive directors 
scrutinise the performance of 
management in meeting agreed 
goals and objectives and monitor 
the reporting of performance.  
All directors receive induction 
training on joining the Board and 
regularly update and refresh 
their knowledge through reading, 
attendance on relevant courses and/
or activities outside the Company.

As part of the process of maintaining 
an awareness of the Company’s 
activities and assessing the ability 
of the management team, members 
of the senior management team are 
invited to attend Board meetings 
and/or to present papers to the 
Board. This process also affords 
senior managers the opportunity to 
bring matters to the attention of the 
Board. 

The Board is satisfied that a process 
is in place for orderly succession to 
the Board and to positions of senior 
management, so as to maintain an 
appropriate balance of skills and 
experience within the Company and 
on the Board.

After carefully reviewing the 
guidance in the Combined Code, 
all of the non-executive directors 
are considered by the Board to 
be independent in character and 
judgement and to be free from any 
business or other relationship or 

circumstance which is likely to affect 
or to interfere with the exercise of 
their independent judgement.

The Company’s Articles of 
Association require that all directors 
must retire and seek re-election at 
the first AGM following appointment. 
Thereafter, any non-executive 
director who has served on the 
Board for more than nine years must 
seek re-election annually. One half of 
the remaining directors, being those 
who have been in office longest 
since last re-election, and any other 
director who has not been elected 
or re-elected at either of the two 
preceding AGMs, must seek re-
election at each AGM.

All directors are able to receive 
training and to take independent 
professional advice at the expense 
of the Company. They also have 
direct access to the Company 
Secretary, who is responsible 
for advising the Board, through 
the Chairman, on all governance 
matters.

The Chairman meets with the non-
executive directors at least annually 
without the executive directors 
present. The Senior Independent 
Director meets the non-executive 
directors annually without the 
Chairman present to appraise the 
Chairman’s performance. The 
performance of the Board, its 
Committees and of all directors is 
evaluated annually by a formal and 
rigorous process. For the review 
relating to 2010, each director 
completed a written questionnaire 
and participated in a ‘one to 
one’ interview with the Company 
Secretary. In addition to covering 
the effectiveness of the Board, its 
committees and each individual 
director, the process also included 
a review of the performance of the 
Board against the objectives it set 
for itself at the start of the year and 

whether the Board had operated 
in accordance with the Company’s 
values at all times. The results are 
fed back to the Chairman and the 
Senior Independent Director and 
then to the Board for discussion. 
These discussions are used 
to identify actions to improve 
effectiveness, to identify individual 
and collective training needs and to 
set objectives for the Board for the 
next year.

Board Committees

The Board delegates some 
of its activities to the following 
committees, each of which has 
written terms of reference, which 
are available on the Company’s 
website. The Company Secretary 
acts as secretary to each of these 
committees.

The Audit Committee currently 
consists of four independent non-
executive directors (Bob Bennett 
- Chairman, Julie Baddeley, Roger 
Whiteside and Iain Ferguson). The 
Committee’s main functions (which 
it discharged during the year) are 
to endeavour (i) to ensure that the 
accounting and financial policies 
of the Company are proper and 
effective; (ii) to assist the Board in 
fulfilling its oversight responsibilities 
by monitoring the integrity of the 
accounts and information published 
by the Company; (iii) to review 
the internal financial controls 
and the Group’s approach to 
risk management; (iv) to monitor 
compliance with the Listing Rules 
and the recommendations of the 
Combined Code; and (v) to maintain 
an appropriate relationship with the 

23

 
Corporate Governance continued

the specification for all Board 
appointments, identifying candidates 
who meet that specification and 
making recommendations to 
the Board on the basis of merit 
and compliance with objective 
criteria in respect of all new Board 
appointments.

In recruiting additional directors 
the Nominations Committee 
defines the role and uses external 
consultants to assist in identifying 
suitable candidates from which 
the Committee selects a shortlist 
and conducts interviews. The final 
candidate is then subject to formal 
recommendation by the Committee 
and approval by the Board.

Each of the Committees is provided 
with sufficient resources to 
undertake its duties. 

Company’s external auditors 
and review the effectiveness and 
objectivity of the audit process.

During the year, the Committee, in 
performing these functions, reviewed 
the annual and interim accounts 
issued to shareholders; compliance 
with financial reporting standards 
and the size and remit of the internal 
audit function. The Committee 
also considered and made 
recommendations to the Board in 
relation to the independence and 
objectivity of the external auditors 
(including the impact of any non-
audit work undertaken by them) and 
their suitability for re-appointment. 
The Audit Committee reviewed 
the scope of the external audit in 
discussion with the external auditors 
and agreed their fees in respect of 
the audit.

The Committee normally meets 
with the Chief Executive, Finance 
Director, the external auditors, and 
more recently the Internal Audit 
Manager in attendance, although 
time is set aside annually for 
discussion between the Committee 
and the external auditors and 
with the Internal Audit Manager, 
in each case in the absence of all 
executive directors. The Committee 
has the power to engage outside 
advisers if it sees fit. The Committee 
also monitors and reviews the 
effectiveness of internal audit activity 
and the risk management process.

The Combined Code requires the 
Board to be satisfied that at least 
one member of the Audit Committee 
has recent and relevant financial 
experience – the Board is satisfied 
in this respect and is confident 
that the collective experience of 
the members enables them to act 

effectively as an Audit Committee. 
The Committee also has access 
to the Group financial team and 
to its auditors and can seek 
further professional advice, at the 
Company’s cost, if required.

The Remuneration Committee 
currently consists entirely of 
independent non-executive 
directors (Julie Baddeley – Chair, 
Bob Bennett, Roger Whiteside and 
Iain Ferguson). The Committee’s 
main duties (which it discharged 
during the year) are to determine the 
basic salary, benefits in kind, terms 
and conditions of employment, 
performance-related bonuses, 
share options and pension benefits 
of the executive directors and the 
Chairman on behalf of the Board. 
The Committee is also responsible 
for the operation of the Company’s 
share option schemes and for 
monitoring the framework for broad 
policy in respect of, and levels of 
remuneration of, the Company’s 
senior management. A separate 
executive director committee sets, 
after discussion with the Chairman, 
the fees for the non-executive 
directors so as to ensure that no 
director is involved in setting his or 
her own remuneration. The Directors’ 
Remuneration Report is set out on 
pages 72 to 83 of this annual report.

The Nominations Committee 
currently comprises Derek Netherton 
- Chairman, and all of the non-
executive directors. The Committee’s 
main functions (which it discharged 
during the year) are to review the 
balance and constitution of the 
Board; to advise the Board as to 
whether directors retiring by rotation 
should be nominated for re-election 
by the members; and to approve 
and manage the process for setting 

24

 
Annual Report & Accounts 2010

Relations with shareholders

Risk Management

The Chairman ensures that 
there is effective communication 
with individual and institutional 
shareholders through the 
announcement of regular trading 
updates, as well as general 
presentations after announcement 
of the interim and preliminary results 
and the posting of results on the 
Company’s website. The Board 
receives reports on any comments 
received from shareholders following 
these presentations.

The Board considers that the AGM 
is the main forum for communication 
with investors, with the Chairman 
of the Board and its Committees 
available to answer any issues 
raised and any newly appointed 
directors being available to meet 
shareholders. In addition, the 
Company Secretary and the 
Company’s Brokers draw the 
attention of the Board to all relevant 
shareholder communications. The 
Board also reviews briefings and 
comments by analysts in order to 
maintain an understanding of market 
perceptions of the Company. 

The Senior Independent Director is 
available to shareholders if they have 
concerns which they have not been 
able to resolve through the normal 
channels of the Chairman, Chief 
Executive or Finance Director, or for 
circumstances where such contact 
would not be appropriate.

At the AGM, the balance of 
proxy votes cast for and against 
each resolution and the number 
of abstentions is displayed. All 
substantial issues, including the 
receipt of the annual report and 
accounts, are proposed at the AGM 
as separate resolutions. 

The Board is ultimately responsible 
for the Group’s system of internal 
control, which covers all aspects 
of the business, and for reviewing 
its effectiveness. However, any 
such system can only be designed 
to manage, rather than eliminate, 
the risk of failure to achieve the 
Company’s objectives and, 
therefore, is only able to provide 
reasonable, and not absolute, 
assurance against material 
misstatement or loss. The directors 
regularly review the risks to which 
the Company is exposed, as well 
as the operation and effectiveness 
of the system of internal controls. 
This is an ongoing process which 
involves the identification, evaluation 
and management of the significant 
risks faced by the Company. Key 
elements of the internal control 
system, which have been in place 
during the whole of the year under 
review and up to the date of 
approval of this annual report and 
accounts, are:  

Board of Directors

The Board takes a proactive 
approach to the management of 
all forms of risk, and views risk 
management as a vital constituent 
of its role. At each Board meeting, 
the effectiveness of the controls 
relating to the most significant 
risks (i.e. those which may restrict 
the Company’s ability to meet its 
objectives) are monitored and 
reviewed and consideration is given 
as to whether any new material 
risks have emerged. The Audit 
Committee, on behalf of the Board, 
conducts a formal review of risks 
and risk management procedures 
and reports its findings to the Board. 
Remedial action is determined 
where appropriate. For some key 

risks, where it is felt necessary, 
specialist advice is sought from 
external agencies and professional 
advisers. The Board also reviews, at 
least annually, the major risks facing 
the business and the level and 
scope of insurance cover maintained 
within the business. The Board 
receives reports from management 
on significant changes in the 
business and external environment 
which might affect the risk profile. 
It has also set in place a system of 
regular hierarchical reporting which 
provides for relevant details and 
assurances on the assessment and 
control of risks to be given to it. 

Operating Board

The Operating Board, answerable 
directly to the Chief Executive, 
is responsible for implementing 
decisions of the Main Board and 
providing protection against the 
major risks by various techniques, 
including strategic planning, 
monitoring, supervision and training. 

Risk Committee

The Risk Committee was chaired by 
the Chief Executive until June 2010 
after which the Company Secretary 
and General Counsel took the Chair. 
The Risk Committee consists of all 
members of the Operating Board, 
and heads of certain management 
functions within the business. It 
has responsibility for analysing, 
assessing, measuring and 
understanding the Company’s risk 
environment, as well as devising a 
sound risk management strategy for 
review and approval by the Board. 
The Risk Committee reports its 
findings and important changes to 
the Board on a regular basis through 
personal presentation, narrative 
reports and key performance 
indicators (internal

25

 
 
 
Corporate Governance continued

and external to the organisation) 
and through the Audit Committee. 
The Risk Committee also feeds the 
results of its assessments back into 
the Operating Board’s business 
planning process at least annually. 
The risks are assessed on a regular 
basis across all functional areas 
but, in particular, the areas of food 
safety, health and safety, competitive 
environment, information flow, 
asset protection and regulatory 
requirements. 

Key Risks and  
Mitigating Actions

The Board considers the key risks to 
the Company to be as follows: 

Organisational

The success of the Company 
is dependent upon the efforts 
and abilities of its employees. 
The Company has established 
remuneration packages that 
will attract, retain and motivate 
individuals with appropriate skills 
and experience. Organisational 
structure is regularly reviewed and 
there are group-wide processes for 
the training and development of all 
employees.  

External factors

Changes in the retail trading 
environment or in customer 
preferences could clearly have a 
significant effect on the business. 
The Company continually monitors 
market trends, the performance of its 
competitors and the performance of 
its own products and retail formats. 
Consumer research is carried out 
regularly and key market reports are 
monitored. 

Operational

Financial Reporting

The safety of our products, 
employees and customers is 
paramount. Detailed systems are 
in place to ensure that we are 
operating safely and these systems 
are subject to regular audit to 
ensure compliance. High priority is 
given to implementing any resulting 
recommendations.

Detailed plans are in place for all 
our major production facilities to 
maintain business continuity in the 
event of any potentially disruptive 
occurrence. 

Policies and Procedures

Policies and procedures, covering 
control issues across appropriate 
aspects of the business, are 
defined and communicated to the 
respective managers and staff at all 
levels. Adherence is monitored and 
reported upon. 

Health and Safety

The Company is committed to 
improving continuously the working 
environment, with the objective that 
accidents and work-related ill health 
should progressively be reduced. 
Health and Safety Officers and 
Occupational Nurses are appointed 
across the business and operational 
policies and procedures are subject 
to both internal and external audit. 
Targets are set and programmes 
are devised to implement them. This 
approach involves a rigorous health 
assessment, during which hazards 
are identified, risks assessed, control 
measures applied and improvement 
actions agreed to manage residual 
risks.

The Company has in place a strong 
financial control environment. 
The Company’s financial control 
procedures are set out in its 
Accounting Manual and are 
designed to ensure that assets 
are well-protected, authority 
levels for expenditure are clear, 
and performance is regularly 
monitored. Processes are in place 
to ensure that key controls are 
being operated and compliance 
with these processes is the subject 
of independent inspection by the 
Company’s internal audit team. A 
comprehensive budgeting process 
ensures that there are clear and 
stretching plans for all areas of the 
business and performance against 
these plans is reported weekly and 
monthly to the Company’s Operating 
Board. Members of the finance team 
work alongside Operating Board 
directors and their functional teams 
to highlight performance issues and 
support achievement of financial 
objectives. 

Whistle Blowing

The Company has ‘whistle blowing’ 
procedures in place, which enable 
employees to bring matters to the 
attention of the senior management 
and for the confidential, 
proportionate and independent 
consideration and follow-up of 
any matter so raised. The ‘whistle 
blowing’ procedures are reviewed 
regularly by the Audit Committee, 
and the Chairman of the Audit 
Committee is the first line recipient of 
any matters that are raised through 
this policy.

26

 
 
 
 
 
 
Internal Audit

During the year the Board provided 
additional resource to improve 
the effectiveness of the Internal 
Audit team. The function continues 
to review the performance of the 
Supply Chain and regional Retail 
functions across a range of financial 
and non-financial requirements, 
reporting findings to senior 
management and direct to the 
Audit Committee. The Internal Audit 
Manager reports to the Company 
Secretary & General Counsel, to 
improve functional independence, 
and has a standing invitation 
to attend all Audit Committee 
meetings, not only that part relating 
to the presentation of relevant audit 
reports. 

Annual Report & Accounts 2010

The Internal Audit team has authority 
to access all areas of the business, 
senior management, and the 
Chairman of the Audit Committee as 
is seen fit. 

The Board confirms that it has 
reviewed the effectiveness of the 
system of internal control (covering 
all material controls, including 
financial, operational, compliance 
and risk management systems) 
during the year under review and up 
to the date of approval of the annual 
report and accounts. 

Accountability, Audit and 
Going Concern

The Board acknowledges its 
responsibility to present a balanced 
and understandable assessment 
of the Company’s position and 
prospects. This is fulfilled by 
the statements contained in 
the Chairman’s statement and 
Chief Executive’s report, which 
supplement the statutory accounts 
themselves. A statement of directors’ 
responsibilities in respect of the 
preparation of accounts is given on 
page 32. A statement of auditor’s 
responsibilities is given in the report 
of the auditor on page 33.

After making enquiries, the directors 
have a reasonable expectation that 
the Group has adequate resources 
to continue in operational existence 
for the foreseeable future. For this 
reason, they continue to adopt the 
going concern basis in preparing the 
accounts (see basis of preparation 
on page 41). 

Fixed assets

In the opinion of the directors, the 
market value of all of the Group’s 
properties is not significantly 
different from their historical net 
book amount. 

Directors and their interests

The names of the directors in office 
during the year, together with their 
relevant interests in the share capital 
of the Company at 2 January 2010 
and 1 January 2011 (or at date of 
appointment if later) are set out in 
note 24 to the accounts. Details of 
directors’ share options are set out 
in the Directors’ Remuneration report 
on pages 72 to 83.

In accordance with the Company’s 
Articles of Association, Derek 
Netherton, Kennedy McMeikan, 
Raymond Reynolds, and Iain 
Ferguson will retire from the Board 
at the AGM. Julie Baddeley, who 
is Chair of the Remuneration 
Committee, was appointed as a 
director in March 2005, and as at 
the date of the AGM will have been 
a director for in excess of six years. 
In accordance with the requirements 
of clause B.2.3 of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code, the Nominations 
Committee duly and rigorously 
considered the independence of 
Julie Baddeley and resolved that 
Julie was independent and should 
be invited to stand for re-election 
as a director. Accordingly, with all 
directors standing down, being 
eligible, they each offer themselves 
for re-election.

27

 
 
Corporate Governance continued

Directors’ Indemnities  
and conflicts

As at the date of this report, indemnities are in force under which the Company has agreed to indemnify the 
directors, to the extent permitted by law, in respect of losses arising out of or in connection with the execution of 
their duties, powers or responsibilities as directors of the Company. The indemnities do not apply in situations 
where the relevant director has been guilty of fraud or wilful misconduct.

Under the authority granted to them in the Company’s Articles of Association, the Board has considered carefully 
any situation declared by any director pursuant to which he/she has or might have a conflict of interest and, where 
it considers it appropriate to do so, has authorised the continuation of that situation. In exercising its authority, the 
directors have had regard to their statutory and other duties to the Company. 

Substantial shareholdings

At 16 March 2011 the only notified holdings of substantial voting rights in respect of the issued share capital of the 
Company (which may have altered since the date of such notification, without any requirement for the Company to 
have been informed) were:

Number of 
shares held

Percentage of 
issued share capital

Aberforth Partners Limited

F&C Asset Management 

Troy Asset Management

Legal and General Investment Management

A.J. Davison (as trustee of various settlements)

Norges Bank

5,002,497

5,001,366

4,338,847

4,104,434

3,806,030

3,133,000

4.95

4.94

4.29

4.06

3.76

3.10

Authority to purchase shares

At the AGM on 13 May 2010, the shareholders passed a resolution authorising the purchase by the Company of 
its own shares to a maximum of 10,350,000 ordinary shares of 2p each.

That authority has been used as to 2,834,569 shares as at 1 January 2011.

The balance remains in force until the conclusion of the AGM in 2011 or 11 August 2011, whichever is the 
earlier. It is the Board’s intention to seek approval at the 2011 AGM for the renewal of this authority.

28

 
Annual Report & Accounts 2010

Additional information

Following the implementation of 
the European Directive on Takeover 
Bids by certain provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006), 
the Company is required to disclose 
certain additional information in the 
Directors’ Report. This information 
is set out below.

•  The Company has one class of 
share in issue being ordinary 
shares of 2p each. As at 
15 March 2011, there were 
101,155,901 such ordinary shares 
in issue. There are no shares 
in the Company that grant the 
holder special rights with regard 
to control of the Company.

•  At general meetings of the 

Company, on a show of hands, 
every shareholder present in 
person or by proxy has one vote 
only and, in the case of a poll, 
every shareholder present in 
person or by proxy has one vote 
for every share in the capital of 
the Company held by him.

•  The Company’s Articles 

of Association set out the 
circumstances in which shares 
may become disenfranchised.  
No shareholder is entitled, unless 
the directors otherwise determine, 
in respect of any share held by 
him to be present or vote at a 
general meeting either personally 
or by proxy (or to exercise any 
other right in relation to meetings 
of the Company) in respect of that 
share in certain circumstances 
if any call or other sum is 
payable and remains unpaid, if 
the shareholder is in default in 
complying with a duly served 
notice under section 793(1) CA 
2006 or if the shareholder has 
failed to reply to a duly served 

notice requiring him to provide a 
written statement stating he is the 
beneficial owner of shares.

•  A notice convening a general 

meeting can contain a statement 
that a shareholder is not entitled 
to attend and vote at a general 
meeting unless his name is 
entered on the register of 
members of the Company at a 
specific time (not more than 48 
hours before the meeting) and if 
a shareholder’s name is not so 
entered he is not entitled to attend 
and vote.

•  Under the Company’s Articles 
of Association the directors 
may, in their absolute discretion, 
refuse to register the transfer 
of a share in certified form in 
certain circumstances where the 
Company has a lien on the share 
(provided that the directors do 
not exercise their discretion so 
as to prevent dealings in partly 
paid shares from taking place 
on an open and proper basis), 
where a shareholder has failed 
to reply to a duly served notice 
under section 793(1) CA 2006 
or if a transfer of a share is in 
favour of more than four persons 
jointly. In addition, the directors 
may decline to recognise any 
instrument of transfer unless it 
is in respect of only one class 
of share and is deposited at the 
address at which the register 
of members of the Company is 
held (or at such other place as 
the directors may determine) 
accompanied by the relevant 
share certificate(s) and such other 
evidence as the directors may 
reasonably require to show the 
right of the transferor to make 
the transfer. In respect of shares 
held in uncertificated form the 

directors may only refuse to 
register transfers in accordance 
with the Uncertificated Securities 
Regulations 2001 (as amended 
from time to time).

•  Under the Company’s Code 

on dealings in securities in the 
Company, persons discharging 
managerial responsibilities and 
some other senior executives 
may in certain circumstances be 
restricted as to when they can 
transfer shares in the Company.

•  There are no agreements 

between shareholders known to 
the Company which may result 
in restrictions on the transfer of 
shares or on voting rights.

•  Details of the significant holders 
of the Company’s shares are set 
out on page 28.

•  Where, under an employee share 
plan operated by the Company, 
participants are the beneficial 
owners of shares but not the 
registered owner, the voting rights 
are normally exercised by the 
registered owner at the direction 
of the participant.

•  The Company’s Articles of 
Association may only be 
amended by special resolution 
at a general meeting of the 
shareholders.

•  The Company’s Articles of 

Association set out how directors 
are appointed and replaced. 
Directors can be appointed by the 
Board or by the shareholders in a 
general meeting. At each Annual 
General Meeting, any director 
appointed by the Board since the 
last Annual General Meeting plus 
a proportion of the other directors 
must retire from office but each is 
eligible for re-election 

29

Corporate Governance continued

through resignation, purported 
redundancy or otherwise) that 
occurs because of a takeover 
bid. Details of the directors’ 
service agreements and terms 
of appointment are set out in the 
Directors Remuneration Report 
on pages 72 to 83. However, 
provisions in the employee share 
plans operated by the Company 
may allow options to be exercised 
early on a takeover.

Payments to suppliers

Good relationships with our 
suppliers are an important factor 
in the success of the Group. 
Payments to suppliers are made 
in accordance with the Group’s 
normal terms and conditions of 
business except where varied terms 
and conditions are agreed with 
individual suppliers, in which case 
these prevail. Where disputes arise, 
attempts are made to resolve them 
promptly and amicably to ensure 
delays in payment are kept to a 
minimum.

The average creditor payment 
period for the Company and the 
Group at 1 January 2011 was 41 
days (2009: 41 days).

Significant relationships

The Group does not have any 
contractual or other relationships 
with any single party which are 
essential to the business of the 
Group and, therefore, no such 
relationships have been disclosed.

by the shareholders. Under the 
CA 2006 and the Company’s 
Articles of Association, a director 
can be removed from office by the 
shareholders in a general meeting. 

•  The Company’s Articles of 

Association set out the powers of 
the directors. The business of the 
Company is to be managed by 
the directors who may exercise all 
the powers of the Company and 
do on behalf of the Company all 
such acts as may be exercised 
and done by the Company 
and are not by any relevant 
statutes or by the Company’s 
Articles of Association required 
to be exercised or done by the 
Company in general meeting, 
subject to the provisions of 
any relevant statutes and the 
Company’s Articles of Association 
and to such regulations as may 
be prescribed by the Company by 
special resolution.

•  Under the CA 2006 and 

the Company’s Articles of 
Association, the directors’ powers 
include the power to allot and 
buyback shares in the Company. 
At each Annual General Meeting, 
resolutions are proposed granting 
and setting out the limits on these 
powers.

•  The Company is not party to any 
significant agreements which 
take effect, alter or terminate 
upon a change of control of the 
Company, following a takeover 
bid.

•  There are no agreements 

between the Company and its 
directors or employees providing 
for compensation for loss of 
office or employment (whether 

30

 
 
Auditors

Auditor independence and 
policy on the use of the 
auditors for non-audit work

There are strict policies and 
procedures in place to control 
the use of external auditors in the 
provision of non-audit services. 
The Audit Committee keeps under 
review all non-audit services 
provided by the external auditors 
in order to seek to ensure that 
their independence and objectivity 
cannot be compromised. The 
Committee recognises that there 
are situations where it is in the 
Company’s best interests to use 
the services of its external auditors 
for non-audit work but manages 
such appointments and will not 
allow any non-audit work that 
might, in the Committee’s opinion, 
impair the auditors’ objectivity or 
independence. In addition, the 
Audit Committee ensures that 
the external auditors have their 
own policies and are subject to 
professional standards designed 
to safeguard their independence 
as auditors. The Audit Committee 
has adopted a policy under which 
all use of the external auditors for 
non-audit work must be reported 
to and approved by the Committee 
and the aggregate of such fees will 
normally be less than 100 per cent 
of the audit fee. In circumstances 
where the Committee believes that 
it is right to authorise non-audit fees 
in excess of this limit the Committee 
will approve such expenditure in 
advance of it being committed 
and provide an explanation to 
shareholders in the next directors’ 
report.

The Audit Committee has reviewed 
whether, and is satisfied that, the 
Company’s auditors, KPMG Audit 
Plc, continue to be objective and 
independent of the Company. 
KPMG Audit Plc does perform 
non-audit services for the Group 
but the Audit Committee is satisfied 
that its objectivity is not impaired 
by such work. In 2010, non audit 
fees paid to KPMG Audit Plc and 
related KPMG operations amounted 
to £151,000 and related principally 
to taxation compliance services and 
pension scheme audits. 

Disclosure of information  
to auditors

Each of the directors who held 
office at the date of approval of 
this directors’ report confirms that, 
so far as he/she is individually 
aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the Company’s 
auditors are unaware; and that 
he/she has taken all the steps 
that he/she ought to have taken 
as a director to make himself/
herself aware of any relevant audit 
information and to establish that the 
Company’s auditors are aware of 
that information.

Reappointment of auditors

In accordance with Section 489 
of the Companies Act 2006, a 
resolution for the re-appointment 
of KPMG Audit Plc as auditors of 
the Company will be proposed at 
the forthcoming Annual General 
Meeting.

Annual Report & Accounts 2010

By order of the Board

Jonathan D Jowett
Company Secretary 
Greggs plc (CRN 502851) 
Fernwood House 
Clayton Road 
Jesmond 
Newcastle upon Tyne 
NE2 1TL 

16 March 2011

31

 
 
 
 
•  the directors’ report, which 

incorporates the Chairman’s 
statement, the Chief Executive’s 
report and the Corporate Social 
Responsibility statement include 
a fair review of the development 
and performance of the business 
and the position of the Company 
and the undertakings included 
in the consolidation taken as a 
whole, together with a description 
of the principal risks and 
uncertainties that they face.

K. McMeikan 
R.J. Hutton 
16 March 2011

Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities

Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities in respect 
of the Annual Report and 
Accounts

The directors are responsible for 
preparing the Annual Report and 
the Group and Parent Company 
accounts in accordance with 
applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors 
to prepare Group and Parent 
Company accounts for each 
financial year. Under that law they 
are required to prepare the Group 
accounts in accordance with 
IFRSs as adopted by the EU and 
applicable law and have elected 
to prepare the Parent Company 
accounts on the same basis.

Under company law the directors 
must not approve the accounts 
unless they are satisfied that they 
give a true and fair view of the state 
of affairs of the Group and Parent 
Company and of their profit or loss 
for that period. In preparing each 
of the Group and Parent Company 
accounts, the directors are required 
to:

•  select suitable accounting 

policies and then apply them 
consistently;

•  make judgements and estimates 
that are reasonable and prudent;

•  state whether they have been 
prepared in accordance with 
IFRSs as adopted by the EU;

•  prepare the accounts on the 

going concern basis unless it is 
inappropriate to presume that the 
Group and the Parent Company 
will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for 
keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show 
and explain the Parent Company’s 
transactions and disclose with 
reasonable accuracy at any time 
the financial position of the Parent 
Company and enable them to 
ensure that its accounts comply 
with the Companies Act 2006. 
They have general responsibility for 
taking such steps as are reasonably 
open to them to safeguard the 
assets of the Group and to 
prevent and detect fraud and other 
irregularities. 

Under applicable law and 
regulations, the directors are 
also responsible for preparing 
a directors’ report, Directors’ 
Remuneration Report and 
Corporate Governance Statement 
that complies with that law and 
those regulations. 

The directors are responsible for 
the maintenance and integrity 
of the corporate and financial 
information included on the 
Company’s website. Legislation in 
the UK governing the preparation 
and dissemination of accounts 
may differ from legislation in other 
jurisdictions.  

The directors confirm that to the 
best of their knowledge: 

•  the accounts, prepared in 

accordance with the applicable 
set of accounting standards, give 
a true and fair view of the assets, 
liabilities, financial position and 
profit of the Company and the 
undertakings included in the 
consolidation taken as a whole; 
and

32

 
 
 
 
 
 
Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of Greggs plc

Annual Report & Accounts 2010

We have audited the accounts of 
Greggs plc for the 52 weeks ended 
1 January 2011 set out on pages 
35 to 71. The financial reporting 
framework that has been applied in 
their preparation is applicable law 
and International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by 
the EU and, as regards the Parent 
Company accounts, as applied in 
accordance with the provisions of 
the Companies Act 2006.

This report is made solely to the 
Company’s members, as a body, in 
accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 
16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our 
audit work has been undertaken 
so that we might state to the 
Company’s members those matters 
we are required to state to them 
in an auditor’s report and for no 
other purpose. To the fullest extent 
permitted by law, we do not accept 
or assume responsibility to anyone 
other than the Company and the 
Company’s members, as a body,  
for our audit work, for this report, or 
for the opinions we have formed.

Respective responsibilities 
of directors and auditor
As explained more fully in the 
Directors’ Responsibilities Statement 
set out on page 32, the directors are 
responsible for the preparation of the 
accounts and for being satisfied that 
they give a true and fair view. Our 
responsibility is to audit, and express 
an opinion on, the accounts in 
accordance with applicable law and 
International Standards on Auditing 
(UK and Ireland). Those standards 
require us to comply with the 
Auditing Practices Board’s (APB’s) 
Ethical Standards for Auditors. 

Scope of the audit of  
the accounts
A description of the scope of an 
audit of accounts is provided on the 
APB’s web-site at www.frc.org.uk/
apb/scope/private.cfm. 

Opinion on accounts
In our opinion:

•  the accounts give a true and fair 
view of the state of the Group’s 
and of the Parent Company’s 
affairs as at 1 January 2011 and of 
the Group’s profit for the year then 
ended;

•  the Group accounts have been 

properly prepared in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by the EU;

•  the Parent Company accounts 
have been properly prepared 
in accordance with IFRSs as 
adopted by the EU and as applied 
in accordance with the provisions 
of the Companies Act 2006; and

•  the accounts have been 

prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006 and, as regards the 
Group accounts, Article 4 of the 
IAS Regulation.

Opinion on other matters 
prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006

In our opinion:

•  the part of the Directors’ 

Remuneration Report to be 
audited has been properly 
prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006; 

•  the information given in the 

directors’ report for the financial 
year for which the accounts are 
prepared is consistent with the 
accounts.

Matters on which we  
are required to report 
by exception
We have nothing to report in respect 
of the following:

•  Under the Companies Act 2006 

we are required to report to you if, 
in our opinion:

  -  adequate accounting records 

have not been kept by the Parent 

Company, or returns adequate 
for our audit have not been 
received from branches not 
visited by us; or

  -  the Parent Company accounts 
and the part of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report to be 
audited are not in agreement 
with the accounting records and 
returns; or

  -  certain disclosures of directors’ 
remuneration specified by law 
are not made; or

  -  we have not received all the 

information and explanations we 
require for our audit. 

•  Under the Listing Rules we are 

required to review:

  -  the directors’ statement, set out 
on page 32, in relation to going 
concern; and

  -  the part of the Corporate 

Governance Statement on page 
20 relating to the Company’s 
compliance with the nine 
provisions of the June 2008 
Combined Code specified for our 
review; and

  -    certain elements of the report to 
shareholders by the Board on 
directors’ remuneration.

Nick Plumb  
(Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of KPMG Audit 
Plc, Statutory Auditor 
Chartered Accountants 
Quayside House 
110 Quayside 
Newcastle upon Tyne 
NE1 3DX 

16 March 2011

33

 
 
 
 
 
 
34

Consolidated income statement

for the 52 weeks ended 1 January 2011 (2009: 53 weeks ended 2 January 2010)

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Distribution and selling costs

Administrative expenses

Operating profit

Finance income

Profit before tax

Income tax

Profit for the financial year attributable to 
equity holders of the parent

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Note

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

1

662,326 

658,186 

(252,651)

(252,284)

409,675 

405,902 

(321,261)

(321,686)

(36,049)

52,365 

158 

52,523 

(14,589)

(35,783)

48,433 

346

48,779 

(14,405)

37,934 

34,374 

37.8p

37.3p

34.1p

34.0p

5

3–5

7

8

8

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

for the 52 weeks ended 1 January 2011 (2009: 53 weeks ended 2 January 2010)

Profit for the financial year

Other comprehensive income

Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit 
pension plans

Tax on items taken directly to equity

Other comprehensive income for the financial 
year, net of income tax

Total comprehensive income for the 
financial year

Note

19

7

            Group

2010 
£’000

2009 
£’000

37,934 

34,374 

2,881

(778)

2,103

(6,920)

1,938 

(4,982)

40,037 

29,392 

35

 
Balance sheets

at 1 January 2011 (2009: 2 January 2010)

ASSETS
Non–current assets
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Other investments

Total assets
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Current tax liabilities
Provisions

Non–current liabilities
Other payables
Defined benefit pension liability
Deferred tax liability
Long term provisions

Total liabilities
Net assets

EQUITY
Capital and reserves
Issued capital
Share premium account
Capital redemption reserve
Retained earnings

Total equity attributable to equity 
holders of the parent

Note

       Group
2010
£’000 

    Parent Company

2009 
£’000 

2010 
£’000 

2009 
£’000 

9 
10 
11 

12 
13 
14
11

15 
16 
20 

17 
19 
18 
20 

21

21

433 
226,150  
– 

226,583  

11,883  
22,309  
20,790  
3,000  
57,982  
284,565

(70,246)
(6,282)
(1,018)

(77,546)

(8,439)
(8,764)
(10,924)
(2,665)
(30,792)
(108,338)
176,227 

579  
211,155  
– 

211,734  

11,886  
21,206  
34,619  
 – 
67,711  
279,445  

(71,738)
(8,857)
(857)

(81,452)

(8,830)
(12,332)
(9,298)
(3,296)
(33,756)
(115,208)
164,237 

433  
226,743  
4,987 

232,163  

11,883  
22,309  
20,790  
3,000  
57,982  
290,145  

(78,053)
(6,282)
(1,018)

(85,353)

(8,439)
(8,764)
(10,212)
(2,665)
(30,080)
(115,433)
174,712 

579  
211,748  
4,987  

217,314  

11,886  
21,206  
34,619  
 – 
67,711  
285,025  

(79,545)
(8,857)
(857)

(89,259)

(8,830)
(12,332)
(8,559)
(3,296)
(33,017)
(122,276)
162,749 

2,023 
13,533 
416 
160,255 

2,080 
13,533 
359 
148,265 

2,023 
13,533 
416 
158,740 

2,080 
13,533 
359 
146,777 

176,227 

164,237 

174,712 

162,749 

The accounts on pages 35 to 71 were approved by the Board of directors on 16 March 2011 and were 
signed on its behalf by:

K. McMeikan 

R.J. Hutton

Company Registered Number 502851 

36

 
 
Statements of changes in equity

for the 52 weeks ended 1 January 2011 (2009: 53 weeks ended 2 January 2010)

Group
53 weeks ended 2 January 2010

Balance at 28 December 2008

Total comprehensive income 
for the year

Profit for the financial year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners, recorded 
directly in equity

Sale of own shares

Share-based payment transactions

Dividends to equity holders

Tax items taken directly to reserves

Total transactions with owners

Balance at 2 January 2010

52 weeks ended 1 January 2011

Balance at 3 January 2010

Total comprehensive income for 
the year

Profit for the financial year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners, recorded 
directly in equity

Shares purchased and cancelled

Sale of own shares

Share-based payment transactions

Dividends to equity holders

Tax items taken directly to reserves

Total transactions with owners

Balance at 1 January 2011

Attributable to equity holders of the Company

Note

Issued 
capital 

Share 
premium 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve

Retained 
earnings 

Total 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

2,080 

13,533 

359  131,975 

147,947 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

34,374 

34,374 

(4,982)

(4,982)

29,392 

29,392

1,182 

1,182 

982 

982 

(15,339)

(15,339)

73 

73 

(13,102)

(13,102)

2,080 

13,533 

359  148,265 

164,237 

2,080 

13,533 

359  148,265  164,237 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(57)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(57) 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

37,934 

37,934 

2,103 

2,103 

40,037 

40,037 

57 

(12,864)

(12,864)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

734 

642 

734 

642 

(17,061)

(17,061)

502 

502 

57 

(28,047)

(28,047)

2,023 

13,533 

416  160,255  176,227 

19

21

7

21

19

21

7

37

Statements of changes in equity

(continued)

Parent Company
53 weeks ended 2 January 2010

Attributable to equity holders of the Company

Note

Issued 
capital 

Share 
premium 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve

Retained 
earnings 

Total 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

Balance at 28 December 2008

2,080 

13,533 

359 

130,690 

146,662 

Total comprehensive income for 
the year

Profit for the financial year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners, recorded 
directly in equity

Sale of own shares

Share-based payment transactions

Dividends to equity holders

Tax items taken directly to reserves

Total transactions with owners

Balance at 2 January 2010

52 weeks ended 1 January 2011

Balance at 3 January 2010

Total comprehensive income for 
the year

Profit for the financial year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners, recorded 
directly in equity

Shares purchased and cancelled

Sale of own shares

Share-based payment transactions

Dividends to equity holders

Tax items taken directly to reserves

Total transactions with owners

Balance at 1 January 2011

38

6

19

21

7

6

21

19

21

7

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

34,171 

34,171 

(4,982)

(4,982)

29,189 

29,189

1,182 

1,182 

982 

982 

(15,339)

(15,339)

73 

73 

(13,102)

(13,102)

2,080 

13,533 

359 

146,777 

162,749 

2,080 

13,533 

359  146,777  162,749 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(57)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(57)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

37,907 

37,907 

2,103 

2,103 

40,010 

40,010 

57 

(12,864)

(12,864)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

734 

642 

734 

642 

(17,061)

(17,061)

502 

502 

57 

(28,047)

(28,047)

2,023

13,533

416  158,740  174,712 

Statements of cashflows

for the 52 weeks ended 1 January 2011 (2009: 53 weeks ended 2 January 2010)

Operating activities

Cash generated from operations 
(see page 40)

Income tax paid

Net cash inflow from operating 
activities

Investing activities
Acquisition of property, plant and 
equipment
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and 
equipment

Interest received

Acquisition of other investments

Net cash outflow from investing 
activities

Financing activities

Sale of own shares

Shares purchased and cancelled

Dividends paid

Government grants received

Net cash outflow from financing 
activities

Net (decrease) / increase in cash and 
cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the start of 
the year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end 
of the year

Note

       Group

    Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

2009

£’000

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

77,826 

87,944 

77,826 

87,944 

(15,814)

(14,731)

(15,814)

(14,731)

62,012

73,213 

62,012

73,213 

(44,672)

(30,296)

(44,672)

(30,296)

815 

158 

(3,000)

2,368 

346 

 – 

815 

158 

(3,000)

2,368 

346

 – 

(46,699)

(27,582)

(46,699)

(27,582)

734 

(12,864)

(17,061)

49 

1,182 

 – 

(15,339)

1,087 

734 

(12,864)

(17,061)

49 

1,182 

 – 

(15,339)

1,087 

(29,142)

(13,070)

(29,142)

(13,070)

(13,829)

32,561 

(13,829)

32,561 

34,619 

2,058 

34,619 

2,058 

20,790 

34,619 

20,790 

34,619 

5

11

21

21

14

14

39

Statements of cashflows

for the 52 weeks ended 1 January 2011 (2009: 53 weeks ended 2 January 2010)

(continued)

Note

       Group

    Parent Company

2010 

 £’000 

2009 

 £’000 

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

Cash flow statement – cash generated 
from operations

Profit for the financial year

37,934 

34,374 

37,907 

34,171 

Amortisation

Depreciation

Impairment

Loss on sale of property, plant and 
equipment

Release of government grants

Share based payment expenses

Finance income

Income tax expense

Decrease in inventories

(Increase) / decrease in receivables

(Decrease) / increase in payables

Decrease in pension liability

Decrease in provisions

Cash from operating activities

9

10

11

19

5

7

146 

107 

146 

107 

28,965 

27,218 

28,965 

27,218 

 – 

869 

(437)

642 

(158)

 – 

10 

(228)

982 

(346)

 – 

869 

(437)

642 

(158)

203 

10 

(228)

982 

(346)

14,589 

14,405 

14,616 

14,405 

3 

(1,103)

(2,467)

(687)

(470)

77,826 

266 

1,492 

11,103 

(321)

(1,118)

87,944 

3 

(1,103)

(2,467)

(687)

(470)

77,826 

266 

1,492 

11,103 

(321)

(1,118)

87,944

40

Notes to the consolidated accounts

Significant accounting policies

Greggs plc (“the Company”) is a company incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The Group accounts 
consolidate those of the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the “Group”). The Parent 
Company accounts present information about the Company as a separate entity and not about its Group.

The accounts were authorised for issue by the directors on 16 March 2011.

(a)  Statement of compliance

Both the Parent Company accounts and the Group accounts have been prepared and approved by the 
directors in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU (“adopted 
IFRSs”), IFRIC interpretations and the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.  
On publishing the Parent Company accounts here together with the Group accounts, the Company is 
taking advantage of the exemption in s408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present its individual income 
statement and related notes that form a part of these approved accounts.

(b)  Basis of preparation

The accounts are presented in pounds sterling, rounded to the nearest thousand, and are prepared on the 
historical cost basis. 

The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance 
and position are set out in the directors’ report and business review on pages 6 to 31. The financial position 
of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described in the Chief Executive’s 
report on pages 8 to 11. In addition note 2 to the accounts includes the Group’s objectives, policies 
and processes for managing its capital; its financial risk management objectives; details of its financial 
instruments and hedging activities; and its exposures to credit risk and liquidity risk.

The Group has considerable financial resources and the business continues to be strongly cash generative. 
As a consequence, the directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage its business risk 
successfully despite the current uncertain economic outlook.

After making enquiries, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group 
have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they 
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.

The Group chose not to restate business combinations prior to the transition date on an IFRS basis, as no 
significant acquisitions had taken place during the previous 10 years. The Group’s policy up to and including 
1997 was to eliminate goodwill arising upon acquisitions against reserves. Under IFRS 1 and IFRS 3, such 
goodwill remains eliminated against reserves.

The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently throughout the Group and to all years 
presented in these consolidated accounts and are unchanged from previous years. From 3 January 2010 
the following standards, amendments and interpretations became effective and were adopted by the Group:

•   Amendments to IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement: Eligible Hedged Items 
– this amendment clarifies the existing principles that determine whether specific risks or portions of 
cash flows are eligible for designation in a hedging relationship;

•   Revised IFRS 3 Business Combinations – this standard significantly changed the way in which 
business combinations are accounted for. This change will only impact the Company if an 
acquisition takes place in the future.

•   Amendments to IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements – the amendment reflects 

changes to the accounting for non-controlling interest.

The adoption of the above has not had a significant impact on the Group’s profit for the year or equity.

41

 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

Significant accounting policies (continued)

(b)  Basis of preparation (continued)

The preparation of financial information in conformity with adopted IFRSs requires management to make 
judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of 
assets and liabilities, income and expenses. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an 
ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the year in which the estimate is revised 
if the revision affects only that year, or in the year of revision and future years if the revision affects both 
current and future years.

The key estimates and judgements that have the most significant impact on the accounts are as follows:

Lease classification

Judgement has to be applied as to whether the Group’s shop leases are operating leases or finance leases 
– see note 22 for how this is determined.

Post retirement benefits

The determination of the pension cost and defined benefit obligation of the Group’s defined benefit pension 
scheme depends on the selection of certain assumptions including the discount rate, inflation rate, mortality 
rates and expected return on scheme assets. Differences arising from actual experience or future changes in 
assumptions will be reflected in future years. The key assumptions made for 2010 are given in note 19.

Impairment of property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is reviewed for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate 
that the carrying value may not be recoverable. For example, bakery equipment may be impaired if it is no 
longer in use and/or shop fittings may be impaired if sales in that shop fall. When a review for impairment 
is conducted the recoverable amount is determined based on value in use calculations which include 
management’s estimates of future cash flows generated by the assets and an appropriate discount rate.

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

Depreciation is provided so as to write down the assets to the residual values over their estimated useful 
lives, both of which require management’s judgement (see accounting policy (g)).

Provisions

Provision is required in respect of closed shops for which the Group has on-going lease commitments. 
Management exercise judgement as to whether the shop will be sublet to a third party taking into account 
current market conditions and, if so, for how long and at what rent, in order to estimate the future net holding 
cost to the Group until the lease can be exited. This estimate is then discounted (where the impact would be 
material) at a rate that reflects the current time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. In respect 
of our exit from the Belgian operation in 2008 a provision remains for the potential recourse of leases taken 
over by the new owner.

(c)  Basis of consolidation

The consolidated accounts include the results of Greggs plc and its subsidiary undertakings for the 52 
weeks ended 1 January 2011. The comparative period is the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2010.

(i) 

Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. Control exists where the Company has the power, 
directly or indirectly, to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from 
its activities. The accounts of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated accounts from the date control 
commences until the date that control ceases. 

42

Significant accounting policies (continued)

(ii) 

Transactions eliminated on consolidation

Intragroup balances, and any unrealised gains and losses or income and expenses arising from intragroup 
transactions, are eliminated in preparing the consolidated accounts.

(d)  Exceptional items

Exceptional items are defined as items of income and expenditure which are material and unusual in nature 
and which are considered to be of such significance that they require separate disclosure on the face of the 
income statement in accordance with IAS 1.

(e) 

Foreign currency

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the foreign exchange rate ruling at the date of the 
transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date 
are translated at the foreign exchange rate ruling at that date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are 
measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rate at the 
date of the transaction. Foreign exchange differences arising on translation are recognised in the income 
statement.

(f) 

Intangible assets

The Group’s only intangible asset is accounting software which is measured at cost less accumulated 
amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. 

Subsequent expenditure is capitalised only when it increases the future economic benefits embodied in the 
specific asset to which it relates. All other expenditure is recognised in the income statement as incurred.

Amortisation is recognised in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of 
intangible assets from the date that they are available for use. The estimated useful lives for the current and 
comparative periods are five years.

(g)  Property, plant and equipment

(i) 

Owned assets

Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost or deemed cost less accumulated depreciation 
(see below) and impairment losses (see accounting policy (k)). The cost of self-constructed assets includes 
the cost of materials, direct labour and an appropriate proportion of production overheads.

(ii) 

Subsequent costs

The cost of replacing a component of an item of property, plant and equipment is recognised in the carrying 
amount of the item if it is probable that the future economic benefits embodied within the component will 
flow to the Group, and its costs can be measured reliably. The carrying value of the replaced component is 
derecognised. The costs of the day to day servicing of property, plant and equipment are recognised in profit 
and loss as incurred.

43

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

Significant accounting policies (continued)

(g)  Property, plant and equipment (continued)

(iii)  Depreciation

Depreciation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful economic 
lives of each part of an item of property, plant and equipment. Freehold and long leasehold properties are 
depreciated by equal instalments over a period of 40 years. Land is not depreciated. The depreciation rates 
are as follows: 

Short leasehold properties 

10%

Plant:
General 
Computers 
Motor vehicles 
Delivery trays 

10%
20% – 33¹⁄³%
20% – 25%
33¹⁄³%

Shop fixtures and fittings:
General 
Electronic equipment 

10%
20%

Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values (if not insignificant) are reassessed annually.

(iv)  Assets in the course of construction

Depreciation on these assets commences when the assets are available for use.

(h) 

Investments

Non-current investments comprise investments in subsidiaries which are carried at cost less impairment.

Current investments comprise fixed term fixed rate bank deposits where the term is greater than three 
months.

(i) 

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Net realisable value is the estimated 
selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the estimated costs of completion and selling expenses. 
The cost of inventories includes expenditure incurred in acquiring the inventories and direct production 
labour costs.

(j) 

Cash and cash equivalents

‘Cash and cash equivalents’ comprises cash balances and call deposits with an original maturity of three 
months or less. Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the Group’s cash 
management are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the statement of 
cash flows.

44

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Significant accounting policies (continued)

(k) 

Impairment

The carrying amounts of the Group and Company’s assets, other than inventories and deferred tax assets, 
are reviewed at each balance sheet date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any 
such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. Impairment reviews are carried out on an 
individual shop basis unless there are a number of shops in the same location, in which case the impairment 
review is based on the location.

An impairment loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable 
amount. Impairment losses are recognised in the income statement. Impairment losses recognised in prior 
years are assessed at each reporting date and reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to 
determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying 
amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, if no 
impairment loss had been recognised.

(l) 

Non – current assets held for sale

Non-current assets that are expected to be recovered primarily through sale rather than through continuing 
use are classified as held for sale. Immediately before classification as held for sale, the assets are 
remeasured in accordance with the Group and Company’s accounting policies. Thereafter generally the 
assets are measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair value less cost to sell.

(m)  Share capital

(i) 

Repurchase of share capital

When share capital recognised as equity is repurchased, the amount of the consideration paid, including 
directly attributable costs, is recognised as a deduction from equity. Repurchased shares that are held in the 
Employee Share Ownership Plan are classified as treasury shares and are presented as a deduction from 
total equity.

(ii) 

Dividends

Dividends are recognised as a liability in the year in which they are approved by the shareholders.

(n)  Employee share ownership plan

The Group and Parent Company accounts include the assets and related liabilities of the Greggs Employee 
Benefit Trust (“EBT”). In both the Group and Parent Company accounts the shares held by the EBT are 
stated at cost and deducted from total equity.

(o)  Employee benefits

(i) 

Defined contribution plans

Obligations for contributions to defined contribution pension plans are recognised as an expense in the 
income statement when they are due.

(ii) 

Defined benefit plans

The Group and Company’s obligation in respect of defined benefit post-employment plans, including 
pension plans, is calculated by estimating the amount of the future benefit that employees have earned in 
return for their service in the current and prior years. That benefit is discounted to determine its present value 
and any unrecognised past service costs, and the fair value of any plan assets is deducted. The discount 
rate is the yield at the balance sheet date on AA credit rated bonds that have maturity dates approximating to 
the terms of the Group’s obligations. The calculation is performed by a qualified actuary using the projected 
unit credit method.

45

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

Significant accounting policies (continued)

(o)  Employee benefits  (continued)

When the benefits of a plan are improved, the portion of the increased benefit relating to past service by 
employees is recognised as an expense in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the average 
period until the benefits become vested. To the extent that the benefits vest immediately, the expense is 
recognised immediately in the income statement.

The Group and Company recognise actuarial gains and losses in full in the year in which they occur in the 
statement of changes in equity.

(iii)  Share–based payment transactions

The share option programme allows Group employees to acquire shares of the Company. The fair value 
of share options granted is recognised as an employee expense with a corresponding increase in equity. 
The fair value is measured at grant date, using an appropriate model, taking into account the terms and 
conditions upon which the share options were granted, and is spread over the period during which the 
employees become unconditionally entitled to the options. The amount recognised as an expense is 
adjusted to reflect the actual number of share options that vest except where forfeiture is only due to share 
prices not achieving the threshold for vesting.

For options granted before 7 November 2002 the recognition and measurement principles of IFRS 2 have 
not been applied in accordance with the transitional provisions in IFRS 1. In addition deferred taxation has 
not been recognised on these options but is accounted for as current tax when it arises.

(p)  Provisions

A provision is recognised if, as a result of a past event, the Group has a present legal or constructive 
obligation that can be estimated reliably, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be 
required to settle the obligation. Provisions are determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at 
a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to 
the liability.

(i) 

Restructuring

A provision for restructuring is recognised when the Group has approved a detailed and formal restructuring 
plan, and the restructuring either has commenced or has been announced publicly. Future operating costs 
are not provided for.

(ii) 

Closed shops

Provision is made for vacant and partly sublet properties for the shorter of the remaining period of the lease 
and the period until, in the directors’ opinion, they will be able to exit the lease commitment. Significant 
assumptions are applied in making these calculations and such provisions are assessed by reference to the 
best available information at the balance sheet date.

(q)  Revenue

(i) 

Goods sold

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised as income on receipt of cash and is stated after deduction of 
discounts, promotions and value added taxation.

(r)  Government grants

Government grants are recognised in the balance sheet initially as deferred income when there is a 
reasonable assurance that they will be received and that the Group will comply with the conditions attaching 
to them. Grants that compensate the Group for expenses incurred are recognised in the income statement 
on a systematic basis in the same periods in which the expenses are incurred. Grants that compensate the 
Group for the cost of an asset are recognised in the income statement over the useful life of the asset.

46

Significant accounting policies (continued)

(s)  Expenses

(i) 

Operating lease payments

Payments under operating leases are recognised in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the 
term of the lease. Lease incentives received are recognised in the income statement as an integral part of the 
total lease expense over the term of the lease.

(t) 

(i) 

Finance income and expense

Finance income

Finance income comprises interest receivable on cash balances and foreign exchange movements relating 
to overseas bank accounts. Interest income is recognised in the income statement as it accrues using the 
effective interest method.

(ii) 

Finance expenses

Finance expenses comprise interest payable on borrowings and related foreign exchange movements on 
any Euro bank borrowings. 

(u) 

Income tax

Income tax comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognised in the income statement except to 
the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in equity.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or 
substantively enacted at the balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous 
years. 

Deferred tax is recognised using the balance sheet liability method, providing for temporary differences 
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used 
for taxation purposes. The amount of deferred tax recognised is based on the expected manner of realisation 
or settlement of the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities, using tax rates that are expected to apply when 
the temporary differences reverse, based on rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet 
date.

Temporary differences relating to the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor 
taxable profit are not provided for, other than in a business combination.

Deferred tax is not recognised for the following temporary differences: the initial recognition of assets or 
liabilities in a transaction that is not a business combination and that affects neither accounting nor taxable 
profit, and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that it is probable that they will not 
reverse in the foreseeable future.

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be 
available against which the asset can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and 
are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related deferred tax benefit will be realised.

(v)  Research and development

The Company continuously strives to improve its products and processes through technical and other 
innovation. Such expenditure is typically expensed to the income statement as the related intellectual 
property is not capable of being formalised.

47

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

Significant accounting policies (continued)

(w) 

IFRSs available for early adoption not yet applied

The following standards and amendments to standards which will be relevant to the Group, were available 
for early adoption but have not been applied in these accounts:

•  Amendment to IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation: Classification of Rights Issues applicable 

for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 February 2010.

•  Amendment to IFRIC 14 Prepayments of a Minimum Funding Requirement applicable for accounting 

periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011.

•  Revised IAS 24 Related Party Disclosure applicable for accounting periods beginning on or after

1 January 2011.

•  IFRIC 19 Extinguishing Financial Liabilities with Equity Instruments applicable for accounting periods 

beginning on or after 1 July 2010.

These standards amendments are not currently expected to have a significant impact on the accounts when 
they are adopted.

1. 

Segmental analysis

The Board is considered to be the “chief operating decision maker” of the Group in the context of the 
IFRS 8 definition. The information which is reviewed by the Board for the purposes of assessing financial 
performance and allocating resources comprise the profit and loss account for the company as a whole.

Throughout 2009 and 2010 the Group has progressively been reorganised into a centrally managed 
business with an integrated supply chain. During 2009 the Group’s 11 operating divisions were reorganised 
into seven retail regions, each reporting to the Group Retail Director. These retail regions, and their 
predecessor divisions, have similar economic characteristics, products, customers and production and 
distribution methods and have therefore been aggregated into a single reportable segment. The segment 
results, as reported to the chief operating decision maker, are calculated under the principles of IFRS.

Products and services – the Group sells a consistent range of fresh bakery goods, sandwiches and drinks in 
its shops.

Major customers – the majority of sales are made to the general public on a cash basis. A small proportion of 
sales are made on credit to certain organisations but these are immaterial in a group context.

Geographical areas – all results arise in the UK.

The Board has carefully considered the requirements of IFRS 8 and concluded that, as there is only one 
reportable segment whose revenue, profits, assets and liabilities are measured and reported on a consistent 
basis with the group financial statements no additional numerical disclosures are necessary.

48

 
 
 
 
 
2. 

Financial Risk Management

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails 
to meet its contractual obligations.

Trade and other receivables

The Group’s exposure to credit risk is considered not to be significant as sale of goods is for cash. Other 
receivables are primarily prepaid rent and rates as well as amounts owed from HM Revenue & Customs 
in respect of VAT. The credit risk on remaining other receivables and trade receivables is therefore not 
considered significant.

Counterparty risk is also considered low. All of the Group’s surplus cash is held with highly rated banks,  
in line with Group policy.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. 

The Group operates with net current liabilities because all sales are for cash and limited stocks are held 
given their perishable nature. It is therefore reliant on the continued strong performance of the retail portfolio 
to meet its short term liabilities. This is a well established and proven business model. Any increase in short 
term liquidity risk can be mitigated by reducing the capital expenditure budget. The Group has substantial 
cash resources at the year end, and if necessary, would be able to obtain substantial debt funding.

The Group has overdraft facilities of £5,000,000 and €3,000,000 of which £5,000,000 and €3,000,000 was 
undrawn at 1 January 2011 (2009: £5,000,000 and €3,000,000).

Market risk

Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates and equity 
prices that will affect the Group’s income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. 

Given that, as explained below, market risk is not significant, sensitivity analysis would not be meaningful.

Currency risk

Following the exit from the Belgian operation the Group has no regular transactions in foreign currency 
although there are occasional purchases, mainly of capital items, denominated in foreign currency.  
Whilst certain costs such as electricity and wheat can be influenced by movements in the US dollar, actual 
contracts are priced in sterling. In respect of those key costs which are volatile, such as electricity and flour, 
the price may be fixed for a period of time in line with Group policy. All such contracts are for the Group’s 
own expected usage.

Interest rate

The Group has low exposure to interest rate risk. Interest only arises on its bank deposits and overdrafts.  
Net financial income in the year was £158,000 (2009: £346,000).

Equity prices

The Group has no equity investments other than its subsidiaries.

49

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

2. 

Financial Risk Management (continued)

Capital management 

The Board defines capital as the equity of the Group. The Group remains net cash positive with funding 
requirements met by cash generated from retail operations. The Board’s policy is to maintain a strong 
capital base so as to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to enable successful future 
development of the business. The Board’s policy on dividend levels is to pursue a progressive dividend 
policy that pays due regard to the growth of earnings per share over the medium term, the cash generative 
nature of our growing business and our continuing determination to deliver value to our shareholders.

The Board will continue to consider purchasing its own shares in the market dependent on market prices 
and surplus cash levels. The trustees of the Greggs Employment Benefit Trust also purchase shares for 
future satisfaction of employee share options. 

Financial instruments

Group and Parent Company

All of the Group’s surplus cash is invested as cash placed on deposit or fixed term deposits.

The Group’s treasury policy has as its principal objective the achievement of the maximum rate of return 
on cash balances whilst maintaining an acceptable level of risk. Other than mentioned below there are no 
financial instruments, derivatives or commodity contracts used.

Financial assets and liabilities

The Group’s main financial asset comprises cash and cash equivalents and fixed term deposits.  
 Other financial assets include trade receivables arising from the Group’s activities.

Other than trade and other payables, the Group had no financial liabilities within the scope of IAS 39 as at  
1 January 2011 (2009: £nil).

Fair values

The fair value of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities is not materially different from their carrying values. 
Financial assets and liabilities comprise principally of trade receivables and trade payables and the only 
interest bearing balances are the bank deposits and borrowings which attract interest at variable rate.

Interest rate, credit and foreign currency risk

The Group has not entered into any hedging transactions during the year and considers interest rate, credit 
and foreign currency risks not to be significant.

50

3. 

Profit before tax

Profit before tax is stated after charging / (crediting)

Depreciation on owned property, plant and equipment

Loss on disposal of fixed assets 

Release of government grants

Payments under operating leases – property rents

Auditors’ remuneration 

           Audit of these accounts

           Audit of previous year’s accounts

           Other services pursuant to such legislation

           Audit of pension schemes’ accounts

           Other services relating to taxation

           All other services

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

28,965 

27,218 

869 

(437)

10 

(228)

41,837 

42,041 

153 

30 

3 

7 

137 

4 

179 

 – 

3 

9 

94 

6 

Amounts paid to the Company’s auditor in respect of services to the Company, other than the audit of the 
Company’s accounts, have not been disclosed as the information is required instead to be presented on a 
consolidated basis.

4. 

Personnel expenses

The average number of persons employed by the Group (including directors) during the year was as follows:

Management

Administration

Production

Shop

The aggregate personnel costs of these persons were as follows:

Wages and salaries

Compulsory social security contributions

Pension costs – defined contribution plans

Pension costs – defined benefit plans

Equity settled transactions

Group and Parent Company

2010 

2009 

Number 

Number 

718 

438 

2,845 

15,180 

19,181 

647 

415 

2,718 

15,264 

19,044 

Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

251,982 

236,811 

19,238 

3,538 

(87)

642 

18,462 

3,351 

379 

982 

275,313

259,985 

51

Note

19

19

19

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

4. 

Personnel expenses (continued)

Included within wages and salaries, the total amount paid out under the Group’s employee profit sharing 
scheme is contained within the main cost categories as follows:

Cost of sales

Distribution and selling costs

Administrative expenses

5. 

Finance income

Interest income on cash balances

Foreign exchange (loss) / gain

6. 

Profit attributable to Greggs plc

2010 

£’000 

1,513 

3,607 

698 

5,818 

2009 

£’000 

1,389 

3,313 

641 

5,343 

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

165 

(7)

158 

209 

137 

346 

Of the Group profit for the year, £37,907,000 (2009: £34,171,000) is dealt with in the accounts of the Parent 
Company. The Company has taken advantage of the exemption permitted by section 408 of the Companies 
Act 2006 from presenting its own income statement.

7. 

Income tax expense

Recognised in the income statement

Current tax expense

Current year

Adjustment for prior years

Deferred tax expense

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Adjustment for prior years

Total income tax expense in income statement

52

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

16,200 

(2,961)

13,239 

16,410 

(1,157)

15,253 

(222)

1,572 

1,350 

(1,299)

451 

(848)

14,589 

14,405 

7. 

Income tax expense (continued)

Reconciliation of effective tax rate

Profit before tax

Income tax using the domestic corporation tax rate

Non-deductible expenses

Non-qualifying depreciation

Disposal of non-qualifying assets

Impact of change in deferred tax rate to 27%

Adjustment re prior years

Total income tax expense in income statement

2010 

28.0%

1.1%

1.4%

(0.1%)

(0.8%)

(1.8%)

27.8%

2010 

£’000 

52,523 

14,706 

582 

728 

(38)

(405)

(984)

14,589 

2009 

28.0%

0.9%

2.3%

(0.2%)

 – 

(1.5%)

29.5%

2009 

£’000 

48,779 

13,658 

437 

1,120 

(104)

 – 

(706)

14,405 

On 28 July 2010 a reduction in the rate of corporation tax from 28% to 27% was substantively enacted to take 
effect from 1 April 2011. Any timing differences which reverse before 1 April 2011 will be charged / credited at 
28% and any timing differences which exist at 1 April 2011 will reverse at 27%. 

Tax recognised directly in equity

Relating to equity-settled transactions

Relating to defined benefit plans – 
actuarial gains / (losses)

8. 

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share

2010 

2010 

Current tax  Deferred tax 

£’000 

£’000

1 

 – 

1 

(503)

778 

275 

2010 

Total 

£’000 

(502)

778 

276 

2009 

Total 

£’000 

(73)

(1,938)

(2,011)

Basic earnings per share for the year ended 1 January 2011 is calculated by dividing profit attributable to 
ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year 
ended 1 January 2011 as calculated below.

Diluted earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share for the year ended 1 January 2011 is calculated by dividing profit attributable to 
ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares, adjusted for the effects of all 
dilutive potential ordinary shares (which comprise share options granted to employees) outstanding during 
the year ended 1 January 2011 as calculated below.

53

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

8. 

Earnings per share (continued)

Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders

Profit for the financial year attributable to equity 
holders of the parent

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

Issued ordinary shares at start of year

Effect of own shares held

Effect of shares purchased and cancelled

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

37,934 

34,374 

37.8p

37.3p

34.1p

34.0p

2010 

2009 

Number 

Number 

103,990,470  103,990,470 

(2,753,645)

(3,170,821)

(959,689)

–

Weighted average number of ordinary shares during the year

100,277,136 100,819,649

Effect of share options on issue

1,326,346

427,864

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (diluted) during the year

101,603,482 101,247,513

9. 

Intangible assets

Group and Parent Company

Cost

Balance at 29 December 2008, 2 January 2010 and 1 January 2011

Amortisation

Balance at 29 December 2008

Amortisation charge for the year

Balance at 2 January 2010

Balance at 3 January 2010

Amortisation charge for the year

Balance at 1 January 2011

Carrying amounts

At 28 December 2008 

At 2 January 2010

At 3 January 2010

At 1 January 2011

54

Software

£’000 

686 

–

107

107

107 

146 

253 

–

579 

579  

433 

10.  Property, plant and equipment

Group

Cost

Land and 
buildings 

Plant and 
equipment 

Fixtures 
and fittings 

Under 
construction 

Total

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

Balance at 28 December 2008

Additions

Disposals

Reclassification

99,994 

1,244 

(298)

14,844

89,088 

10,265 

(3,987)

17,834 

(6,659)

953 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(14,844)

159,523 

13,891 

362,496 

Balance at 2 January 2010

115,784 

95,366 

170,698 

Balance at 3 January 2010

115,784 

Additions

Disposals

Reclassification

812 

(38)

(354)

95,366 

10,543 

(5,165)

4,834 

170,698 

26,445 

(8,070)

(4,480)

30,296 

(10,944)

–

381,848 

381,848 

 – 

 – 

7,844 

45,644 

 – 

 – 

(13,273)

 – 

Balance at 1 January 2011

116,204 

105,578 

184,593 

7,844 

414,219 

Depreciation

Balance at 28 December 2008

Depreciation charge for the year

Disposals

Balance at 2 January 2010

Balance at 3 January 2010

Depreciation charge for the year

Disposals

Reclassification

Balance at 1 January 2011

Carrying amounts

At 28 December 2008

At 2 January 2010

At 3 January 2010

At 1 January 2011

17,076 

2,318 

(80)

19,314 

19,314 

2,995 

(38)

738 

23,009 

82,918 

96,470 

96,470 

93,195 

55,146 

9,043 

(3,887)

60,302 

60,302 

9,865 

(5,011)

1,799 

66,955 

33,942 

35,064 

35,064 

38,623 

79,819 

15,857 

(4,599)

91,077 

91,077 

16,105 

(6,540)

(2,537)

98,105 

79,704 

79,621 

79,621 

86,488 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

152,041 

27,218 

(8,566)

170,693 

170,693 

28,965 

(11,589)

–

188,069 

13,891 

210,455 

 – 

 – 

211,155 

211,155 

7,844 

226,150 

55

 
Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

10.  Property, plant and equipment (continued)

Parent Company

Land and 
Buildings 

Plant and 
equipment

Fixtures  
and fittings

Under  
construction

Total

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

Cost

Balance at 28 December 2008 

100,504 

Additions

Disposals

Reclassification

Balance at 2 January 2010

1,244 

(298)

14,844 

116,294 

Balance at 3 January 2010

116,294 

Additions

Disposals

Reclassification

812 

(38)

(354)

160,011 

13,891 

364,027 

89,621 

10,265 

(3,987)

17,834 

(6,659)

953 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(14,844)

30,296 

(10,944)

 – 

383,379 

383,379 

 – 

 – 

7,844 

45,644 

 – 

 – 

(13,273)

 – 

95,899 

171,186 

95,899 

10,543 

(5,165)

4,834 

171,186 

26,445 

(8,070)

(4,480)

Balance at 1 January 2011

116,714 

106,111

185,081 

7,844 

415,750 

Depreciation

Balance at 28 December 2008

Depreciation charge for the year

Disposals

Balance at 2 January 2010

Balance at 3 January 2010

Depreciation charge for the year

Disposals

Reclassification

Balance at 1 January 2011

Carrying amounts

At 28 December 2008

At 2 January 2010

At 3 January 2010

At 1 January 2011

17,353 

2,318 

(80)

19,591 

19,591 

2,995 

(38)

738 

23,286 

83,151 

96,703 

96,703 

93,428 

55,416 

9,043 

(3,887)

60,572 

60,572 

9,865 

(5,011)

1,799 

67,225 

34,205 

35,327 

35,327 

38,886 

80,210 

15,857 

(4,599)

91,468 

91,468 

16,105 

(6,540)

(2,537)

98,496 

79,801 

79,718 

79,718 

86,585 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

152,979 

27,218 

(8,566)

171,631 

171,631 

28,965 

(11,589)

 – 

189,007 

13,891 

211,048 

 – 

 – 

211,748 

211,748 

7,844 

226,743 

56

10.  Property, plant and equipment (continued)

Land and buildings

The carrying amount of land and building comprises:

Freehold property

Long leasehold property

Short leasehold property

    Group

    Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

92,411 

95,490 

92,644 

95,723 

626 

158 

883 

97 

626 

158 

883 

97 

93,195 

96,470 

93,428 

96,703 

Property, plant and equipment under construction

Assets under construction at 1 January 2011 comprised new bakeries and equipment for new shops not yet 
fitted.

11. 

Investments

Non-current investments 

Parent Company

Cost

As at 28 December 2008, 2 January 2010 and 1 January 2011 

Impairment

As at 28 December 2008 

Impairment charge for the year

As at 2 January 2010

As at 3 January 2010 

Impairment charge for the year

As at 1 January 2011

Carrying amount

As at 28 December 2008 

As at 2 January 2010

As at 3 January 2010

As at 1 January 2011

Shares in subsidiary undertakings 

£’000 

5,828 

638 

203 

841 

841 

–         

841 

5,190 

4,987 

4,987 

4,987 

57

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

11. 

Investments (continued)

The Company’s subsidiary undertakings, which are all wholly owned, are as follows:

Principal activity

Country of incorporation

Charles Bragg (Bakers) Limited
Greggs (Leasing) Limited
Thurston Parfitt Limited
Greggs Properties Limited
Olivers (U.K.) Limited
Olivers (U.K.) Development Limited*
Birketts Holdings Limited
J.R. Birkett and Sons Limited*
Greggs Trustees Limited
* held indirectly

Current investments

Non-trading
Dormant
Non-trading
Property holding
Dormant
Non-trading
Dormant
Non-trading
Trustees

England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales
Scotland
Scotland
England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales

Fixed rate bond

12. 

Inventories

Raw materials and consumables

Work in progress

13.  Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables

Other receivables

Prepayments

Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

3,000

2009 

£’000 

 – 

Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

9,105

8,999 

2,778

11,883

2,887 

11,886 

Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

1,690 

3,880 

16,739 

22,309 

2009 

£’000 

709 

5,944 

14,553 

21,206 

No amounts are overdue and there is no provision for impairment in the current or prior year.

58

14.  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents 

15.  Trade and other payables

Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

20,790 

34,619 

       Group

       Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

Trade payables

33,382 

35,167 

33,382 

35,167 

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Other taxes and social security

Other payables

Accruals and deferred income

Deferred government grants

16.  Current tax liability

 – 

7,439 

13,326 

15,631 

468 

 – 

7,122 

13,236 

15,748 

465 

7,807 

7,439 

13,326 

15,631 

468 

7,807 

7,122 

13,236 

15,748 

465 

70,246 

71,738 

78,053 

79,545 

The current tax liability of £6,282,000 in the Group and the Parent Company (2009: Group and Parent 
Company £8,857,000) represents the estimated amount of income taxes payable in respect of current and 
prior years.

17.  Other payables

Deferred government grants

Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

8,439 

8,830 

The Group has been awarded five government grants relating to the extension of existing facilities and 
construction of new facilities. The grants, which have all been recognised as deferred income, are being 
amortised over the weighted average of the useful lives of the assets they have been used to acquire. 

59

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

18.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities

Group

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following:

   Assets

   Liabilities

   Net

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

2010 

£’000 

2009 

    2010 

£’000 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

Property, plant and equipment

 – 

 – 

15,485 

14,385 

15,485 

14,385 

Employee benefits

Short term temporary differences

(3,571)

(4,004)

(990)

(1,083)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(3,571)

(4,004)

(990)

(1,083)

Tax (assets) / liabilities

(4,561)

(5,087)

15,485 

14,385 

10,924 

9,298 

The movements in temporary differences during the year ended 2 January 2010 were as follows:

Property, plant and equipment

Employee benefits

Short term temporary differences

Balance at 
28 December 
2008
£’000 

Recognised 
 in income

Recognised 
in equity

£’000 

£’000 

14,828 

(1,800)

(874)

12,154 

(443)

(196)

(209)

(848)

 – 

(2,008)

 – 

(2,008)

Balance at 
2 January 
2010
£’000 

14,385 

(4,004)

(1,083)

9,298 

The movements in temporary differences during the year ended 1 January 2011 were as follows:

Property, plant and equipment

Employee benefits

Short term temporary differences

Balance at 
3 January 
2010 
£’000 

14,385 

(4,004)

(1,083)

9,298 

Recognised 
in income

Recognised 
in equity

£’000 

£’000 

Balance at 
1 January 
2011
£’000 

1,100 

157 

93 

1,350 

 – 

276 

 – 

276 

15,485 

(3,571)

(990)

10,924 

60

18.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities (continued)

Parent Company

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following:

   Assets

   Liabilities

   Net

2010 

£’000

2009 

£’000

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

Property, plant and equipment

 – 

 – 

14,773 

13,646 

14,773 

13,646 

Employee benefits

Short term temporary differences

(3,571)

(4,004)

(990)

(1,083)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(3,571)

(4,004)

(990)

(1,083)

Tax (assets) / liabilities

(4,561)

(5,087)

14,773 

13,646 

10,212 

8,559 

The movements in temporary differences during the year ended 2 January 2010 were as follows:

Property, plant and equipment

Employee benefits

Short term temporary differences

Balance at 
28 December 
2008 
£’000 

Recognised 
in income

Recognised 
in equity

£’000 

£’000 

14,089 

(1,800)

(874)

11,415 

(443)

(196)

(209)

(848)

 – 

(2,008)

 – 

(2,008)

Balance at 
2 January 
2010
£’000 

13,646 

(4,004)

(1,083)

8,559 

The movements in temporary differences during the year ended 1 January 2011 were as follows:

Property, plant and equipment

Employee benefits

Short term temporary differences

Balance at 
3 January 
2010 
£’000 

Recognised 
in income

Recognised 
in equity

£’000 

£’000 

Balance at 
1 January 
2011
£’000 

13,646 

(4,004)

(1,083)

8,559 

1,127 

157 

93 

1,377 

 – 

276 

 – 

276 

14,773 

(3,571)

(990)

10,212 

61

 
 
Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

19.  Employee benefits

Defined benefit plan

The Group makes contributions to a defined benefit (final salary) plan that provides pension benefits for 
employees upon retirement.

Present value of funded obligations

Fair value of plan assets

Recognised liability for defined benefit obligations

This scheme was closed to future accrual in 2008 .

Inflationary growth assumptions

Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

(92,544)

83,780 

(8,764)

2009 

£’000 

(87,211)

74,879 

(12,332)

In July 2010 the UK Government announced its intention to pass legislation amending the statutory 
revaluation of pension scheme benefits and increases to pensions in payment under defined benefit pension 
schemes from RPI to CPI measures. A change to CPI would affect the Group’s defined benefit scheme 
by reducing the deficit and therefore the net liability recognised in the balance sheet. After reviewing UITF 
Abstract 48 the directors believe that no adjustment is appropriate at 1 January 2011. The directors have 
continued to apply prudent assumptions in relation to benefit increases.

Liability for defined benefit obligations

Changes in the present value of the defined benefit obligation are as follows:

Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

87,211 

4,993 

2,800 

(2,460)

 92,544 

2009 

£’000 

69,563 

4,387 

15,538 

(2,277)

87,211 

Opening defined benefit obligation

Interest cost

Actuarial losses 

Benefits paid

62

19.  Employee benefits (continued)

Changes in the fair value of plan assets are as follows:

Opening fair value of plan assets

Expected return

Actuarial gains

Contributions by employer

Benefits paid

Closing fair value of plan assets

The amounts recognised in the income statement are as follows:

Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

74,879 

63,830 

5,080 

5,681 

600 

(2,460)

83,780 

     Group

2010 

£’000 

4,993 

(5,080)

 (87)

4,008 

8,618 

700 

(2,277)

74,879 

2009 

£’000 

4,387 

(4,008)

379

     Group

2010 

£’000 

(87)

(87)

2009 

£’000 

379 

379 

Interest on obligation

Expected return on plan assets

Total included in employee benefit expense

The (credit) / charge is recognised in the following line items of the income statement:

Administrative expenses

Cumulative actuarial gains and losses reported in the statement of recognised income and expenses since 
28 December 2003, the transition date to adopted IFRSs, for the Group and the Parent Company are net 
losses of £15,750,000 (2009: net losses of £18,631,000).

The fair value of the plan assets and the return on those assets were as follows:

Equities

Bonds

Property

Cash/other

Actual return on plan assets

Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

58,705 

20,404 

1,411 

3,260 

83,780 

10,761 

2009 

£’000 

60,340 

10,079 

1,201 

3,259 

74,879 

12,626 

The plan assets include ordinary shares issued by the Company with a fair value of £2,441,000 (2009: 
£2,283,000).

The expected rates of return on plan assets are determined by reference to relevant indices. The overall 
expected rate of return is calculated by weighting the individual rates in accordance with the anticipated 
balance in the plan’s investment portfolio.

63

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

19.  Employee benefits (continued)

Principal actuarial assumptions (expressed as weighted averages):

Discount rate

Expected rate of return on plan assets

Future salary increases

Future pension increases

Group and Parent Company

2010 

5.5%

6.5%

n/a  

3.0%

2009 

5.8%

6.9%

n/a  

3.0%

Mortality rate assumptions have been taken from the A92 pre-retirement and AP92c2025 post-retirement 
tables. The mortality assumptions take account of experience to date, and assumptions for further 
improvements in life expectancy of scheme members. 

Examples of the resulting life expectancies are as follows: 

Life expectancy from age 65 (years)

2010

2009

Male

Female

Male 

Female 

Member aged 65 in 2010

Member aged 65 in 2030

21.4

23.4

23.9

25.7

21.4

23.4

23.9

25.7

The other demographic assumptions have been set having regard to latest trends in the scheme.

History of plan

The history of the plan for current and prior years is as follows:

        Group and Parent Company

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

2008 

£’000 

2007 

£’000 

2006 

£’000 

Present value of defined benefit 
obligation
Fair value of plan assets

Deficit

(92,544)

(87,211)

(69,563)

(78,461)

(74,823)

83,780 

(8,764)

74,879 

(12,332)

63,830 

(5,733)

77,781 

(680)

72,940 

(1,883)

64

19.  Employee benefits (continued)

Experience adjustments:

2010
£’000 

Group and Parent Company
2008
£’000 

2007
£’000 

2009
£’000 

2006
£’000 

Experience adjustments 
on plan liabilities

Experience adjustments 
on plan assets

(2,800) 3.0% (15,538) 17.8% 5,133  7.4% 2,207  2.8%

180  0.2%

5,681  6.8% 8,618 11.5% (17,747) 27.8% (797) 1.0% 2,561  3.5%

Net actuarial experience 
adjustments

2,881

(6,920)

(12,614)

1,410 

2,741 

The Group expects to contribute £nil to its defined benefit plan in 2011.

Defined contribution plan

The Company also operates defined contribution schemes for other eligible employees. The assets of the 
schemes are held separately from those of the Group. The pension cost represents contributions payable by 
the Group and amounted to £3,538,000 (2009: £3,351,000) in the year.

Share–based payments – Group and Parent Company

The Group has established a Savings Related Share Option Scheme, which granted options in April 2003, 
September 2004, September 2005, September 2006, June 2008 and September 2009 and an Executive 
Share Option Scheme, which granted options in September 2003, March 2004, August 2004, September 
2004, August 2006, April 2008 and April 2009.

Both of these schemes also made grants of options prior to 7 November 2002. The recognition and 
measurement principles of IFRS 2 have not been applied to these grants in accordance with the transitional 
provisions in IFRS 1 and IFRS 2.

The Company established a Long Term Incentive Plan in 2006 and grants of options have been made under 
this scheme in March 2007, March 2008 and August 2008.

The Company established a Performance Share Plan in 2009 and a grant of options has been made under 
this scheme in April 2010.

65

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

19.  Employee benefits (continued)

The terms and conditions of the grants are as follows, whereby all options are settled by physical delivery of 
shares:

Date of 
grant

Employees 
entitled

Exercise 
price

Number 
of shares 
granted

Vesting 
conditions

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 7

March 2000 Senior 

170p

1,502,000

employees

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
2% over RPI on average over those 
three years

Contractual 
life

7 to 10 years

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 8

April 2002

Senior 
employees

352p

88,000

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
2-4% over RPI on average over those 
three years

7 to 10 years

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 9

September 
2003

Senior 
employees

310p

82,500

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 11 

August 2004 Senior 

340p

930,000

employees

September 
2004

Senior 
employees

348p

24,000

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 12

August 2006 Senior 

407p

1,028,000

employees

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
2% over RPI on average over those 
three years

10 years

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
3-5% over RPI on average over those 
three years

10 years

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
3-5% over RPI on average over those 
three years

10 years

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
3-5% over RPI on average over those 
three years

10 years

Savings Related Share 
Option Scheme 9

September 
2006

All employees 371p

662,770

Three years’ service

3.5 years

Long Term Incentive 
Plan 1

March 2007 Senior 

executives

Long Term Incentive 
Plan 2

March 2008 Senior 

executives

nil

nil

30,780

126,600

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 13

April 2008

Senior 
employees

457p

618,500

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
3-7.5% over RPI on average over those 
three years

10 years

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
3-10% over RPI on average over those 
three years

10 years

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
3-5% over RPI on average over those 
three years

10 years

June 2008

All employees 393p

761,020

Three years’ service

3.5 years

Savings Related Share 
Option Scheme 10

Long Term Incentive 
Plan 3

August 2008 Senior 

nil

180,210

executives

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 14

April 2009

Senior 
employees

356p

2,012,000

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
3-10% over RPI on average over those 
three years

10 years

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
3-7% over RPI on average over those 
three years

10 years

Savings Related Share 
Option Scheme 11

September 
2009

All employees 354p

717,837

Three years’ service

3.5 years

Performance Share 
Plan 1

April 2010

Senior 
executives

nil

270,521

Three years’ service, EPS annual 
compound growth of 3-8% over RPI 
over those three years and TSR position 
relative to an appropriate comparator 
group

10 years

66

19.  Employee benefits (continued)

The number and weighted average exercise price of share options is as follows:

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

Lapsed during the year

Exercised during the year

Granted during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

2010

Number of 
options

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price

2009

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price

Number of 
options

353p

371p

302p

5,273,920 

(420,053)

(171,127)

nil

270,521 

334p

4,953,261 

366p

408p

364p

355p

353p

4,063,500 

(1,008,453)

(510,964)

2,729,837 

5,273,920 

Exercisable at the end of the year

386p

696,147 

379p

994,061 

The options outstanding at 1 January 2011 have an exercise price in the range of £nil to £4.57 and have a 
weighted average contractual life of 6 years. The options exercised during the year had a weighted average 
market value of £4.74 (2009: £4.24).

The fair value of services received in return for share options granted are measured by reference to the fair 
value of share options granted. The estimate of the fair value of the services received is measured based on 
the Black-Scholes model. The contractual life of the option is used as an input into this model. 

2010
Performance 
Share Plan 1

2009

Executive 
Share Option 
Scheme 14

Savings 
Related 
Share Option 
Scheme 11

April 2010

April 2009

September 
2009

442p

490p

nil

26.2%

3 years

3.39%

1.88%

47p

356p

356p

25.0%

3 years

4.18%

2.20%

64p

393p

354p

25.1%

3 years

4.26%

1.95%

Fair value at grant date

Share price

Exercise price

Expected volatility

Option life

Expected dividends

Risk free rate

The expected volatility is based on historical volatility, adjusted for any expected changes to future volatility 
due to publicly available information. The historical volatility is calculated using a weekly rolling share price 
for the three year period immediately prior to the option grant date.

Share options are granted under a service condition and, for grants to senior employees, a non-market 
performance condition. Such conditions are not taken into account in the grant date fair value measurement 
of the services received. There are no market conditions associated with the share option grants.

67

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

19.  Employee benefits (continued)

The costs charged to the income statement relating to share based payments were as follows:

Share options granted in 2006

Share options granted in 2007

Share options granted in 2008

Share options granted in 2009

Share options granted in 2010

Total expense recognised as employee costs

20.  Provisions

Balance at start of year

Additional provision in the year

Utilised in year

Provisions reversed during the year

Balance at end of year

Included in current liabilities

Included in non–current liabilities

2010

£’000 

84 

(10)

30

398 

 140 

 642 

2009 

£’000 

161 

(24)

575 

270 

 – 

982 

Group and Parent Company

Closed Shop Provision

2010 

£’000 

4,153 

451 

(379)

(542)

3,683

1,018 

2,665 

3,683 

2009 

£’000 

5,271 

1,263 

(2,381)

 – 

4,153 

857 

3,296 

4,153 

The closed shop provision relates to costs in respect of the closure of shops and in particular the onerous 
lease and other commitments associated with the closure of a shop. Included within the provision is 
£199,000 in respect of possible recourse on leases transferred to the purchaser on the sale of the Belgian 
operation.

The key area of uncertainty relates to the net future rental costs to be incurred on closed shops and, in 
particular, whether the shops can be sublet until lease exit. The provision assumes that subletting is unlikely 
in the current climate. The provision is expected to be substantially utilised within three years such that the 
impact of discounting would not be material.

68

21.  Capital and reserves

Share capital and share premium

Ordinary shares

2010

2009

Number

Number

In issue and fully paid at start of year – ordinary shares of 2p (2009: 20p)

103,990,470 

10,399,047 

Purchased and cancelled

(2,834,569)

 – 

Additional shares resulting from ten for one share split – ordinary shares of 2p

 – 

93,591,423 

In issue and fully paid at the end of the year – ordinary shares of 2p

101,155,901 103,990,470

At 1 January 2011 the authorised share capital comprised 250,000,000 ordinary shares with a par value of 2p 
each (2009: 250,000,000 with a par value of 2p each).

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled 
to one vote per share at meetings of the Company. During 2009 2,834,569 shares with a nominal value of 
£57,000 were purchased for cancellation for a consideration of £12,864,000.

Capital redemption reserve

The capital redemption reserve relates to the nominal value of issued share capital bought back by the 
Company and cancelled.

Own shares held

Deducted from retained earnings is £11,327,000 (2009: £12,060,000) in respect of own shares held by the 
Greggs Employee Benefit Trust. The Trust, which was established during 1988 to act as a repository of 
issued Company shares, holds 2,677,620 shares (2009: 2,895,636 shares) with a market value at 1 January 
2011 of £12,451,000 (2009: £12,596,000) which have not vested unconditionally in employees.

The shares held by the Greggs Employee Benefit Trust can be purchased either by employees on the 
exercise of an option under the Greggs Executive Share Option Schemes, Greggs Savings Related Share 
Option Schemes, Greggs Long Term Incentive Plan 2006 and Greggs Performance Share Plan or by the 
trustees of the Greggs Employee Share Scheme. The trustees have elected to waive the dividends payable 
on these shares.

Dividends

The following tables analyse dividends when paid and the year to which they relate:

2010

2009

Per share 

Per share 

pence 

pence 

2008 final dividend *

2009 interim dividend

2009 final dividend

2010 interim dividend

 – 

 – 

11.4p

5.5p

16.9p

*This amount has been restated to reflect the ten for one share split which took place during 2009.

10.0p

5.2p

 – 

 – 

15.2p

69

Notes to the consolidated accounts

(continued)

21.  Capital and reserves (continued)

The proposed final dividend in respect of 2010 amounts to 12.7 pence per share (£12,847,000).  
This proposed dividend is subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting and has not been included 
as a liability in these accounts.

2008 final dividend

2009 interim dividend

2009 final dividend

2010 interim dividend

22.  Operating leases

Non-cancellable operating lease rentals are payable as follows:

Less than one year

Between one and five years

More than five years

2010 

£’000 

 – 

 – 

11,553 

5,508 

17,061 

2009 

£’000 

10,097 

5,242 

 – 

 – 

15,339 

2010 

£’000 

2009 

£’000 

37,047 

34,827 

100,655 

101,821 

28,229 

33,081 

165,931 

169,729 

The Group leases the majority of its shops under operating leases. The leases typically run for a period of 
10 years, with an option to renew the lease after that date. Lease payments are generally increased every 
five years to reflect market rentals. For a small number of the leases the rental is contingent on the level of 
turnover achieved in the relevant unit.

The inception of the shop leases has taken place over a long period of time and many date back a 
significant number of years. They are combined leases of land and buildings. It is not possible to obtain a 
reliable estimate of the split of the fair values of the lease interest between land and buildings at inception. 
Therefore, in determining lease classification the Group evaluated whether both parts are clearly an 
operating lease or a finance lease. Firstly, title does not pass for the land or building. Secondly, because 
the rent paid to the landlord for the buildings is increased to market rent at regular intervals, and the Group 
does not participate in the residual value of the land or building it is judged that substantially all the risks and 
rewards of the land and building are with the landlord. Based on these qualitative factors it is concluded that 
the leases are operating leases.

70

23.  Capital commitments

During the year ended 1 January 2011, the Group entered into contracts to purchase property, plant and 
equipment for £6,004,000 (2009: £804,000). These commitments are expected to be settled in the following 
financial year.

24.  Related parties

Identity of related parties

The Group has a related party relationship with its subsidiaries (see note 11) and its directors and executive 
officers.

Trading transactions with subsidiaries – Group

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on 
consolidation and are therefore not disclosed.

Trading transactions with subsidiaries – Parent Company

       Amounts owed to 
       related parties

       Amounts owed by 
       related parties

Dormant subsidiaries

7,807 

7,807 

– 

2010

£’000

2009

£’000

2010

£’000

2009

£’000

–

The Greggs Foundation is also a related party and during the year the Company made a donation to the 
Greggs Foundation of £638,000 (see Corporate Social Responsibility on pages 12 to 17).

Transactions with key management personnel

The directors are the key management personnel of the Group. The Company has been notified of the 
following interests of the directors who served during the year (including those of their connected persons 
but excluding interests in shares pursuant to unexercised share options) in the share capital of the Company 
as follows:

     Ordinary shares of 2p

   Ordinary shares of 2p

    (Beneficial interest)

   (Trustee holding with no   
   beneficial interest)

2010

2009

2010

2009

(or date of 
cessation if 
earlier)

(or date of 
appointment 
if later)

(or date of 
cessation if 
earlier)

(or date of 
appointment 
if later)

64,681 

35,237 

52,010 

10,000 

 – 

3,000 

12,253 

10,000 

57,860 

 – 

 – 

27,117 

1,650,000 

1,650,000 

43,730 

10,000 

 – 

 – 

12,253 

10,000 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Kennedy McMeikan 

Richard Hutton

Raymond Reynolds 

Derek Netherton (non-executive)

Bob Bennett (non-executive)

Julie Baddeley (non-executive)

Roger Whiteside (non-executive)

Iain Ferguson (non-executive)

Details of directors’ share options, emoluments, pension benefits and other non-cash benefits can be 
found in the Directors’ Remuneration report on pages 72 to 83. Total remuneration is included in personnel 
expenses (see note 4).

There have been no changes since 1 January 2011 in the directors’ interests noted above.

71

Directors’ Remuneration Report

Introduction

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Directors’ Remuneration Report Regulations 2002 (the 
“Regulations”). This report also meets the relevant requirements of the Listing Rules of the Financial Services 
Authority and the relevant provisions of the Companies Act 2006 and describes how the Board has applied 
the Principles of Good Governance relating to directors’ remuneration.

The Regulations require the auditors to report to the Company’s members on the “auditable part” of the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report and to state whether, in their opinion, that part of the report has been 
properly prepared. This report has, therefore, been divided into separate sections for audited and unaudited 
information.

Unaudited information

The Remuneration Committee of the Board (the “Committee”) sets the remuneration and terms of 
appointment of the executive directors and the Chairman on behalf of the Board. 

The committee met five times during 2010 with each member attending as follows:

Name

Julie Baddeley

Bob Bennett

Roger Whiteside

Iain Ferguson

Number of meetings held whilst 
a Committee member

Number of meetings attended 
by a Committee member

5

5

5

5

5

5

           5 

            5

At these meetings, amongst other items, the Committee considered:

•  introduction of a Share Retention Policy for executive directors;
• setting of objectives for the executive directors ensuring risk forms a key part of these; and
•  measures and targets to ensure that executive directors were not incentivised to take inappropriate 

levels of risk.

In addition, each year the Committee considers Greggs’ total remuneration policy for executive directors in 
the context of market and best practice and levels of remuneration throughout the Company.

Andrew Davison (Company Secretary until June 2010), Jonathan Jowett (Company Secretary and General 
Counsel from June 2010), Nicola Bailey (Group People Director until March 2010) and Roisin Currie (Group 
People Director from January 2010) have supported the Committee in their deliberations, along with external 
consultants, PWC. 

General Policy on Directors’ Remuneration

The Committee’s policy is to provide competitive remuneration packages that will attract, retain and motivate 
individuals with appropriate skills and experience with the incentive to add sustainable long-term growth 
and value that will best serve the interests of the Company, its shareholders, its employees and customers. 
Basic salaries and total packages are set to reflect the market. They are regularly benchmarked by external 
consultants against the median level payments made to executives in similar roles in companies of 
comparative size, sector and complexity (which exercise was last conducted by Monks Partnership in 2009 
and will be undertaken again in 2011).

The Committee seeks to structure bonus arrangements that will align the interests of executive directors with 
those of shareholders. The Committee considers corporate performance on risk, governance, environmental 
and social issues when setting the remuneration of executive directors.

72

 
 
 
 
Overview of Remuneration Policy

Objective

Performance period

Basis of delivery

Base Salary

•  Reflects market levels 

• Reviewed annually

based on role and individual 
skill and experience

•  Individual performance and 
contribution recognised 
to ensure market 
competitiveness

• Reviewed annually

•  Balanced approach based 

Annual Bonus (inc Profit 
Share). Maximum earning 
opportunity of 90% of salary 
for all executive directors from 
2010

•  Incentivises achievement 
of annual targets and 
objectives consistent with 
the short to medium term 
strategic needs of the 
business

LTIP (Performance Share 
Plan). Maximum awards of 
90% of salary for CEO and 
70% of salary for other 
executive directors

•  Incentivises long–term value 

creation

•  Alignment with 

shareholders’ interests

• Retention incentive

• Annual award
•  Three year performance 

period

on stretching financial 
(profit and sales) targets 
and personal objectives 
(related to functional KPI’s)

•  Award subject to a 

combination of demanding 
TSR and EPS targets

•  Maximum reward will only 
occur for upper quartile 
performance

• Minimum vesting 25%

Pension

Base Salary

•  Provides a market 
competitive level of 
provision with good 
flexibility while minimising 
risk to the Company

•  Cost increases in line with 

•  Defined contribution 

salary growth

benefits

For 2011 an increase of 2.2% has been applied to the executive directors’ salaries. This has been applied in 
line with the award given to all employees across the business, rather than being reviewed alongside market 
salary growth. 

Annual Bonus 

The Committee seeks to structure annual bonus arrangements so as to encourage sustainable growth in 
the Company’s profits; and is satisfied that the structure will not raise environmental, social or governance 
risks by inadvertently encouraging irresponsible behaviour. Each executive director has a personal objective 
to ensure they monitor and take appropriate action to minimise key business risks. The Committee’s policy 
is that all bonus payments to executive directors should be non-pensionable.  For 2010 the maximum target 
bonus levels were established on the following basis:

Maximum 2010 
bonus achievable

Maximum bonus 
achievable as % of 
basic salary

Financial Target 
(Profit) as % of total 
bonus opportunity

Financial Target 
(Sales) as % of total 
bonus opportunity

Personal Objectives 
(related to functional 
KPI’s) as % of total 
bonus opportunity

Kennedy McMeikan 90% of salary

60% of bonus

20% of bonus

20% of bonus

Richard Hutton

90% of salary

60% of bonus

20% of bonus

20% of bonus

Raymond Reynolds 90% of salary

60% of bonus

20% of bonus

20% of bonus

73

Directors’ Remuneration Report

(continued)

Whilst each element could be measured separately, failure to exceed the profit level achieved in 2009 would 
have resulted in no bonus being earned for either the profit or sales elements in 2010.

Against the 2010 annual bonus targets a payment of 56.6% of annual salary has been earned by Kennedy 
McMeikan, 56.6% by Richard Hutton and 56.6% by Raymond Reynolds.

For 2011 the maximum target bonus levels will continue to be established on the basis above, which the 
Remuneration Committee consider to be suitably challenging.

Whilst each element can be measured separately, failure to exceed the profit level achieved in 2010 will result 
in no bonus being earned for either the profit or sales elements in 2011.

The Committee have also introduced a claw-back clause in the Bonus Scheme rules as follows;

The Committee reserve the right to ‘claw-back’ any portion of the bonus payment that has been paid in 
error should it come to light, at a future date, that there was a material misstatement of the operating profit 
resulting in a significant over-payment.

Share Based Remuneration

Performance Share Plan

Shareholder approval was obtained in 2009 for the introduction of a Performance Share Plan (PSP) from 
2010. 

The introduction of the Performance Share Plan in 2010 under which an award of shares was made 
in line with the level awarded under the previous Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), restricted for three years 
and vesting in full or part subject to the achievement of a combination of EPS growth and TSR targets, is 
intended to provide a greater focus on achieving key long-term business goals and increased shareholder 
value.

The awards under the PSP made in 2010 have the following targets set:

EPS

TSR

Annual compound 
growth

Proportion of  
award vesting 
(% opportunity)

Proportion of  
award vesting 
(% opportunity)

Position relative 
to comparator 
group of FTSE 250 
Food Producers, 
Retailers & Leisure 
Companies

Less than RPI + 3% Nil

Below median

Nil

Threshold

RPI + 3%

Maximum

RPI + 8%

12.5%

50%

At median

12.5%

Upper quartile

50%

74

The comparator group used in connection with the PSP was established following a comprehensive 
review, including advice taken from Monks, and consists of 28 companies who are General Retailers, Food 
Producers/Manufacturers or Leisure Companies and who were considered by the Remuneration Committee 
to be the most appropriate from the FTSE 250. They are:

• Brown (N) Group

• Carpetright

• Cranswick

• Dairy Crest

• Debenhams

• Dignity

• Domino's Pizza

• DSG International

• Dunelm Group

• Game Group

• Greene King

• Halfords Group

• HMV Group

• Inchcape

• Kesa Electricals

• Marston's

• Millennium & Copthorne Hotels

• Mitchells & Butlers

• Mothercare

• Northern Foods

• Premier Foods

• Rank Group

• Restaurant Group

• Robert Wiseman Dairies

• Sports Direct Intl.

• Tate & Lyle

• Wetherspoon (JD)

• WH Smith

These targets and the comparator group will remain in place for the 2011 scheme.

Other share based incentive schemes

LTIP 

Under this scheme, the Committee had discretion to invite the participants (including executive directors) 
to utilise a proportion (not more than 50%) of their post tax annual bonus (including profit share) to acquire 
shares in the Company and then grant nil cost options to match the pre-tax value of the sum invested.  
These nil cost options were exercisable normally after three years, and only if certain performance criteria 
have been met. 

For the award in 2008 the performance targets were set at average growth in earnings per share of 3% 
above the RPI for a 1:1 match and 10% above the RPI for a 2:1 match, providing a further stretch in order 
to achieve the maximum award. Following the three year performance period the conditions have been 
met to the extent that a 1.007:1 match will be awarded resulting in options over 14,329 shares becoming 
excercisable by Richard Hutton and over 12,637 shares by Raymond Reynolds. 

Given the very low level of bonus payments awarded following the year 2008, the Committee did not offer 
participation in this LTIP in 2009. As previously outlined the Performance Share Plan has replaced this LTIP 
from 2010, and therefore the Committee will offer no further participation in this previous scheme.

Executive Share Option Scheme 

There have also been occasional grants to the executive directors of options over shares in the Company, 
pursuant to one or more of the share option schemes operated through the Committee. These include both 
Inland Revenue approved and unapproved long-term share incentive schemes, designed to encourage the 
executive directors and other employees to hold shares in the Company and to enhance share values.

No such awards were granted in 2010.

75

Directors’ Remuneration Report

(continued)

In accordance with institutional investor guidelines, the total number of new shares and shares held in 
treasury over which the Company may grant options is limited and the Company has chosen to allocate a 
significant proportion of the shares available to the Company’s Savings Related Share Option Scheme open 
to all employees, including executive directors. Any future grants of executive share options to executive 
directors will be based upon the need to secure individuals of appropriate calibre, having regard to prevailing 
market conditions at the date of appointment or to help to align the interests of executive directors with 
those of shareholders, especially if the LTIP or PSP is not available to a particular individual, or where the 
Committee considers it appropriate.

The above policies enable the executive directors to receive potentially significant benefits in addition to their 
basic salaries, but only if value has been created for shareholders. The Committee considers that, although 
the non-performance related elements of the executive directors’ remuneration packages are substantial, 
the performance related elements are significant in terms of providing motivation to the executive directors to 
improve shareholder value.

Policy on Performance Conditions

The performance conditions attaching to share options granted to the executive directors under the Company’s 
Senior Executive Share Option Schemes have varied according to the date of grant. Such conditions are set 
by the Committee to establish challenging performance objectives linked to shareholder return. Executive 
directors are not eligible to have executive share options granted in the same year as participation in the PSP. 
The Committee intends that if any executive share options are granted in the future, performance conditions will 
continue to be settled on this basis. Details of the performance conditions for options currently outstanding are 
set out in the section headed ‘Share Options’ below.

Whether or not performance conditions attached to share options have been met is tested by the Committee, 
which compares the actual performance of the Company with relevant published statistics and, if necessary, 
obtains advice from external consultants in order to reach its conclusion. 

No performance conditions have been attached to options granted pursuant to the Company’s Savings 
Related Share Option Scheme, which is available for all employees. The principal purpose of this scheme is to 
encourage employees at all levels within the Company to participate in, and to understand better, the growth in 
value of the Company and the rules of that scheme require that all options granted must be on the same terms.

Performance criteria in relation to the performance based annual cash bonuses payable to the executive 
directors are set by the Committee each year in accordance with the general remuneration policy set out 
above. 

Policy on Pensions

Until the scheme was closed to further accrual from 1 April 2008, executive directors earned pension benefits 
under the Greggs 1978 Retirement & Death Benefit Scheme, the Company’s defined benefit scheme. This 
scheme, which required a contribution of 6.6% of pensionable salaries from members, provided for up to 
two-thirds of final pensionable salary, dependant on length of pensionable service. Since 1 April 2008, the 
Company has paid contributions to the Company’s money purchase defined contribution pension schemes for 
all executive directors. 

76

Due to the changes in the annual allowance for tax relief on pensions, effective from 6th April 2011, the 
Committee has decided to allow the executive directors a degree of flexibility with regards to how they 
receive their pension contribution, with the principle that there should be no additional charge borne by the 
Company.

Should the executive directors wish to cap their pension contribution at £50,000, in line with the new annual 
allowance, they can do so and the balance of this contribution will be paid as a supplement in addition to 
their salary on a monthly basis.

This supplement will be subject to tax and NI. The employer’s NI charge will be borne by the executive 
director to ensure there are no additional charges to the Company.

The executive directors will be able to make this choice on an annual basis.

The remuneration adjustment will be disclosed in the Remuneration Report in the 2011 Annual Report and 
Accounts.

Share Retention Guidelines

The Committee has introduced Share Retention Guidelines for executive directors. These are effective from 1 
January 2011 and require each executive director to build up a shareholding of 100% of their base salary in a 
five year period through shares matured and granted via the LTIP or PSP and a percentage of bonus payment 
to be given as shares at the discretion of the Committee or chosen to be taken as shares by the executive 
director. This will be reviewed by the Committee in March each year.

Policy on Service Contract Notice Periods and Payments on Early Termination

The Company’s policy on the duration of directors’ contracts is that:

•  the Chief Executive’s service contract is terminable on one year’s notice served by either the Company 

or the director;

•  other executive directors service contracts are terminable on one year’s notice served by the Company 

or by six months’ notice served by the director; 

•  future executive directors’ will be engaged on terms necessary to secure individuals of appropriate 

calibre, having regard to prevailing market conditions at that time;

•  non-executive directors are appointed subject to the Company’s Articles of Association, which require 
them to retire and to seek re-election at the first AGM after appointment. Any non-executive director 
who has served on the Board for over nine years must seek re-election annually. Each year one half 
of the remaining directors, being those who have been longest in office since last re-election, and 
any other director who has not been elected or re-elected at either of the two preceding AGMs, must 
retire and seek re-election. The Nominations Committee advises the Board as to whether a particular 
director, whose turn it is to retire by rotation, should be nominated for re-election; and

•  it is the Company’s policy to seek mitigation of entitlements on termination and the Company does 

not normally make payments beyond its contractual obligations, including any payment in respect of 
notice to which a director is entitled.

Non-executive directors are not entitled to compensation for early termination of their appointments prior to the 
date on which they would next be due to retire by rotation, or if not re-appointed at such time.

77

 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ Remuneration Report

(continued)

Directors’ service contracts

Details of the executive directors’ service contracts or letters of appointment are as follows:

Executive Directors

Kennedy McMeikan has a service contract with the Company dated 8 April 2008. His continuous period of 
service with the Company commenced on 1 June 2008. 

Richard Hutton has a service contract with the Company dated 7 April 2006. His continuous period of service 
with the Company commenced on 1 January 1998.

Raymond Reynolds has a service contract with the Company dated 18 December 2006. His continuous period 
of service with the Company commenced on 1 December 1986.

In addition to their basic salaries, each is entitled to participate in the Company’s profit sharing scheme 
available to all employees. They are also entitled to additional benefits including membership of the company 
pension scheme, the use of a motor car, private medical insurance, life assurance, permanent health insurance 
and a contribution towards telephone expenses. 

Non-Executive Directors

In order to ensure that no director is involved in deciding his/her own remuneration, the fees payable to non-
executive directors (other than the Chairman) are set, after consultation with the Chairman, by a committee 
of the Board consisting only of the executive directors (Kennedy McMeikan, Richard Hutton and Raymond 
Reynolds) who periodically seek advice from external consultants as to the appropriate market rates applicable. 
Such advice was last obtained in 2009 from Monks Partnership. An increase in fees of 2.2% was awarded to 
the Committee Chairman and the non-executive directors, effective January 2011. This was applied in line with 
the award given to all employees across the business and did not reflect the average growth in fees across the 
market.

The basic non-executive fees for 2011 are £37,814 per annum, including membership of committee(s) and an 
additional £5,621 for Chairmanship of the Audit or Remuneration Committee(s).

The non-executive directors do not have service contracts with the Company. However, each of them does 
have a letter of appointment. These are dated 25 February 2002 for Derek Netherton, 1 December 2003 for 
Bob Bennett, 1 March 2005 for Julie Baddeley, 21 February 2008 for Roger Whiteside and 31 March 2009 for 
Iain Ferguson. The terms of appointment of each non-executive director require that they seek re-election on a 
regular basis in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company (see above). The fees payable to 
the non-executive directors cover all normal duties. In exceptional circumstances, where significant additional 
time commitment is required, the Board (or a duly authorised committee) may award additional fees. No right 
of compensation exists where the office is terminated, for whatever reason.

78

Performance graph

The graph below shows a comparison of the 
total shareholder return for the Company’s 
shares for each of the last five financial years 
against the total shareholder return for the 
companies comprised in the FTSE Mid 250 
Index (excluding Investment Trusts) and the 
FTSE 350 (excluding Investment Trusts).
These indices were chosen for this 
comparison because they include companies 
of broadly similar size to the Company. 

  FTSE 350 (excluding 
investment trusts)

  FTSE Mid 250 (excluding 
investment trusts)

 Greggs

Audited information

This information relates to both the Parent Company and the Group.

Directors’ emoluments and compensation

The following tables set out details of the emoluments and compensation received or receivable by each 
director (excluding pension contributions details of which are set out below).

Salary/fees 
set for 

Salary/fees 
paid in  

2011

£ 

2010

£ 

Estimated 
value of 
benefits
2010

£ 

Annual 
profit 
share
2010

£ 

Annual 
bonus 

2010

£ 

Total 

2010

£ 

456,834 

265,720 

237,104 

447,000 

260,000 

232,000 

25,550 

20,777 

12,602 

6,752 

221,045 

700,347 

10,170 

122,330 

413,277 

9,075 

109,155 

362,832 

Executive

Kennedy McMeikan 

Richard Hutton 

Raymond Reynolds 

Chairman

Derek Netherton

123,406 

120,750 

Non–executive

Bob Bennett

Julie Baddeley

Roger Whiteside

Iain Ferguson 

Total

43,435 

43,435 

37,814 

37,814 

42,500 

42,500 

37,000 

37,000 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

120,750 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

42,500 

42,500 

37,000 

37,000 

1,245,562 

1,218,750 

58,929 

25,997

452,530 

1,756,206

79

 
Directors’ Remuneration Report

(continued)

Salary/fees 
paid in  

2009

£ 

438,000 

242,000 

227,000 

115,000 

40,000 

40,000 

35,500 

26,625 

14,204

Estimated 
value of 
benefits
2009

Annual 
profit 
share
2009

Annual 
bonus 

Total 

2009

2009

£ 

£ 

£ 

£ 

24,353 

20,500 

12,617 

4,022 

114,238 

580,613 

10,192 

40,628 

313,320 

9,560 

36,521 

285,698 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

115,000

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

40,000 

40,000 

35,500 

26,625 

14,204

1,178,329 

57,470 

23,774 

191,387 

1,450,960 

Executive

Kennedy McMeikan

Richard Hutton 

Raymond Reynolds 

Chairman

Derek Netherton

Non–executive

Bob Bennett

Julie Baddeley

Roger Whiteside 

Iain Ferguson (from 13 May 2009)

Mike Darrington (resigned 13 May 2009)

Total

Share options

The following table sets out details of the executive and savings related share options (all of which were 
granted at a nominal cost to the executive director concerned) held by, or granted to, each executive director 
during the year:

Kennedy McMeikan

Richard Hutton

Raymond Reynolds

Number of options during the year

At 2 January 
2010 
Number

Granted 
Number

Exercised 
Number

Lapsed 
Number

At 1 January 
2011 
Number

Exercise 
price 

£ Date of grant

Date from 
which exer-
cisable

80,000 

276 

26,750 

80,000 

430 

410 

26,750 

80,000 

430 

410 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

80,000 

276 

26,750 

80,000 

430 

410 

26,750 

80,000 

430 

410 

3.56

3.54

4.07

3.56

3.938

3.54

4.07

3.56

3.938

3.54

Apr 09

Oct 09

Aug 06

Apr 09

Apr 08

Oct 09

Aug 06

Apr 09

Apr 08

Oct 09

Aug 12

Nov 12

Aug 09

Aug 12

Jun 11

Nov 12

Aug 09

Aug 12

Jun 11

Nov 12

Expiry 
date

Scheme

Apr 19

Executive

Apr 13

SAYE

Aug 16

Executive

Apr 19

Executive

Dec 11

Apr 13

SAYE

SAYE

Aug 16

Executive

Apr 19

Executive

Dec 11

Apr 13

SAYE

SAYE

80

 
 
The executive directors also have a potential beneficial interest in the Greggs Employee Benefit Trust.

On each of the grants awarded under the Senior Executive Share Option Schemes, the exercise of the 
options granted was made conditional upon the growth in the Company’s basic earnings per share over 
a three year period. For options granted in 1999, earnings per share growth must be greater than 2% per 
annum above growth in the Retail Prices index. On the grant awarded in August 2006 the exercise of the 
options granted was made conditional upon the average annual growth in the Company’s basic earnings 
per share over the three years from grant being greater than the average annual growth in the Retail Price 
Index over the three years. If earnings per share growth exceeds RPI growth by 3% then half of the options 
will be exercisable, if earnings per share growth exceeds RPI growth by 5% then all of the options will be 
exercisable and if earnings per share growth exceeds RPI growth by between 3% and 5% the number of 
options exercisable is pro-rated on a straight-line basis. On the grant awarded in April 2009 the exercise 
of the options granted was made conditional upon the average annual growth in the Company’s basic 
earnings per share over the three years from grant being greater than the average annual growth in the Retail 
Price Index over the three years. If earnings per share growth exceeds RPI growth by 3% then half of the 
options will be exercisable, if earnings per share growth exceeds RPI growth by 7% then all of the options will 
be exercisable and if earnings per share growth exceeds RPI growth by between 3% and 7% the number of 
options exercisable is pro-rated on a straight-line basis.

Options granted under the all employee SAYE scheme are not subject to performance conditions.

The following table sets out details of the Long-Term Incentive Plan and Performance Share Plan share 
options (all of which were granted at nil cost to the executive director concerned and subject to the 
performance conditions referred to on page 74) held by, or granted to, each director during the year, 
according to the register of director’s interests:

Options 
held under 
the plan at 
2 January 
2010

Date of 
grant

Options 
granted 
during 2010

Options 
exercised 
during 2010

Options 
lapsed 
during 
2010

Options 
held under 
the plan at 
1 January 
2011

Market price 
of each 
share at 
date of grant
£

Market price 
at date of 
exercise
£

Date from 
which 
exercisable

Gain on 
exercise
£

Expiry 
date

Scheme

Kennedy McMeikan

Aug 08

180,210

-

Apr 10

-

82,169

Richard Hutton

Raymond Reynolds

Mar 07

Mar 08

Apr 10

Mar 07

Mar 08

Apr 10

8,120

28,460

-

-

-

37,173

6,100

25,100

-

-

-

33,169

-

-

8,120

-

-

6,100

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

180,210

82,169

-

28,460

37,173

-

25,100

33,169

3.762

4.896

4.746

4.475

4.896

4.746

4.475

4.896

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Aug 11

Apr 13

Aug 18

Apr 20

4.553

36,970

-

-

-

-

4.553

27,773

-

-

-

-

Mar 10

Mar 11

Apr 13

Mar 10

Mar 11

Apr 13

Mar 17

Mar 18

Apr 20

Mar 17

Mar 18

Apr 20

LTIP

PSP

LTIP

LTIP

PSP

LTIP

LTIP

PSP

No non-executive director has any options to acquire shares in the Company.

The mid-market price of ordinary shares in the Company as at 1 January 2011 was £4.69. The highest and 
lowest mid-market prices of ordinary shares during the financial year were £4.01 and £4.96 respectively.

Pensions

Until the scheme was closed to further accrual from 1 April 2008 Richard Hutton and Raymond Reynolds 
earned pension benefits under the Greggs 1978 Retirement and Death Benefit Scheme, the Company’s 
defined benefit scheme. This scheme, which required a contribution of 6.6% of pensionable salaries from 
members, provided for up to two-thirds of final pensionable salary, dependant on length of pensionable 
service. From 1 April 2008 all executive directors received contributions into the Company’s money purchase 
defined contributions pension schemes. No pension benefits were earned or accrued in respect of any non-
executive director.

81

 
 
Directors’ Remuneration Report

(continued)

Defined benefit scheme

The following table sets out the change in each director’s accrued pension in the Company’s defined benefit 
scheme during the year and his accrued benefits in the scheme at the year end:

Executive Director

Date of birth

Date service 
commenced

Accrued 
annual 
pension 
entitlement at 
age 65 as at 1 
January 2011
£

Accrued 
annual pension 
entitlement at 
age 65 as at 2 
January 2010
£

Increase 
in accrued 
pension 
entitlement for 
the year
£

Increase 
in accrued 
pension 
entitlement for 
the year net 
of inflation of 
4.6%
£

Transfer value 
of increase 
in accrued 
pension 
entitlement for 
the year
£

Richard Hutton

Raymond Reynolds

3/6/68

4/11/59

1/1/98

1/12/86

18,522

69,535

18,522 

69,535 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Note 1: The pension entitlement shown is that which would be paid annually on retirement based on service 
to the end of the year, but excluding any statutory increases which would be due after the year end.

Note 2: The inflation rate of 4.6% shown in the table above is that published by the Secretary of State for 
Social Security in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Pensions Schemes Act 1993.

Cash equivalent 
transfer value as at 2 
January 2010

Cash equivalent 
transfer value as at 
1 January 2011

£ 

£ 

172,649 

872,910 

191,497 

901,932 

Increase in the 
cash equivalent 
transfer value since 
2 January 2010

£ 

 – 

 – 

Executive Director

Richard Hutton

Raymond Reynolds

Note: cash equivalent transfer values have been calculated in accordance with Actuaries Guidance Note 
GN11 and the increase is stated net of contributions made by the director. The transfer values disclosed 
above do not represent a sum paid or payable to the individual director. Instead they represent a potential 
liability of the pension scheme.

82

Money purchase schemes

The Company has paid the contributions set out below to the Greggs Senior Executive Pension Scheme for 
the benefit of executive directors during this financial year. 

Contribution in 
respect of 2010
£ 

Contribution in 
respect of 2009
£ 

67,050 

33,800 

32,480 

65,700 

31,460 

29,699 

Executive Director

Kennedy McMeikan

Richard Hutton

Raymond Reynolds

Approval by Shareholders

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held on 11 May 2011, a resolution approving this 
report is to be proposed as an ordinary resolution.

This report was approved by the Board on 16 March 2011.

Signed on behalf of the Board

Julie Baddeley
Director
Chair of Remuneration Committee
16 March 2011

83

10 Year History

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006 †

2007 ~ 2008 §

2009

2010

(as restated)*

Turnover (£'000)

377,556  422,600  456,978  504,186  533,435  550,849  586,303  628,198  658,186  662,326 

Earnings before 
interest and tax 
(£'000)

Profit on ordinary 
activities before 
taxation (£'000)

Shareholders' funds 
(£'000)

Earnings per share 
(pence) ˆ

Dividend per share 
(pence) ˆ

Capital expenditure 
(£'000)

Net book value of 
fixed assets (£'000)

Number of shops in 
operation at 
year end

31,597 

35,334 

39,167 

45,763 

47,143 

38,747 

49,909 

48,613 

48,433 

52,365

32,742 

36,666 

40,472 

47,751 

50,159 

40,239 

51,143 

49,470 

48,779 

52,523

103,554  119,965  134,150  157,156  181,475  144,891  145,594  147,947  164,237  176,227

19.0

20.9

23.1

27.1

28.2

24.1

34.3

33.6

34.1

37.8

6.5

7.3

8.0

9.6

10.6

11.6

14.0

14.9

16.6

18.2

27,385 

42,143 

32,361 

25,090 

41,687 

30,023 

42,343 

40,758 

30,296 

45,644 

124,123  148,184  160,704  163,110  180,826  184,325  196,783  210,455  211,155  226,150

1,144 

1,202 

1,231 

1,263 

1,319 

1,336 

1,368 

1,409 

1,419 

1,487

* restated for the transition to IFRSs  † includes £3.5m Bakers Oven Restructuring costs  ~ includes one–off property gains 
of £2.2m  § includes £4.3m exceptional credit  ˆ All years prior to 2009 adjusted to take account of the ten for one share split 
which took place during 2009.

Secretary and Registered Office

Jonathan D Jowett, LL.M. Solicitor
Fernwood House
Clayton Road
Jesmond
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 1TL

Advisers 

Bankers
National Westminster Bank Plc
149 High Street
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 1HA

Stockbrokers
UBS
1 Finsbury Avenue
London
EC2M 2PA

Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd
Commercial Union House
39 Pilgrim Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6RQ

Auditors
KPMG Audit Plc
Quayside House
110 Quayside
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 3DX

84

Solicitors
Muckle LLP
Time Central
32 Gallowgate
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4BF

Registrars
Capita Registrars
Bourne House
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent
BR3 4TU

 
 
 
Fernwood House,  
Clayton Road, Jesmond,  
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE2 1TL

www.greggs.co.uk

Design and project management – 
Gratterpalm.

Material – This report has been 
printed on elemental chlorine–free 
paper which is made from trees 
from sustainable forests.