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Greggs plc

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Industry Grocery Stores
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FY2020 Annual Report · Greggs plc
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GREGGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2020 20
20

BRINGING OUT
THE BEST IN US

INTRODUCTION

In a year like no other, 
the Covid-19 crisis 
has, in many ways 
demonstrated the 
strength of Greggs. 

It has shown the resilience of our business model,  
but most of all the strength of our people who have 
worked hard throughout to maintain an essential service 
providing takeaway food to customers unable to work 
from home, many of whom were themselves key workers. 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our 
people, who can be proud of the part we played in our 
nation’s time of need.

Greggs is well placed to participate in the recovery from 
the pandemic and has demonstrated its resilience and 
capability to operate under such challenging conditions. 
With good liquidity and growing digital capabilities Greggs 
is an attractive proposition that can grow further in new 
locations, channels and dayparts. These opportunities  
will benefit all of our stakeholders in the years to come.

1

Roger Whiteside OBE, Chief Executive
16 March 2021

Strategic Report

2020 Highlights 

At a glance 

Year in review 

Business model 

Chairman’s statement 

Chief Executive’s report 

Key performance indicators 

Non-financial key  
performance indicators 

Gender of workforce  

Our strategy in action 

Supporting our local communities  

The Greggs Pledge 

Financial Review 

Risk management 

Viability statement 

Principal risks and uncertainties 

Stakeholder engagement 

Directors’ Report

Board of Directors and Secretary 

Governance report 

Audit Committee report 

Directors’ remuneration report 

Statement of Directors’  
responsibilities 

Accounts

Independent auditor’s report 

Consolidated income statement 

Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income 

Balance sheets 

Statements of changes in equity 

Statements of cashflows 

Notes to the consolidated accounts 

Ten-year history 

Secretary and advisers 

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12

18

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32

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71

79

102

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112

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167

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Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page 
2020 HIGHLIGHTS

2

Covid-secure operating 
model established. 
Shop and supply chain operations adapted 
to safeguard team members and customers 
while operating during Covid-19.

READ MORE ON PAGES 13-14 

Multi-channel development 
strategy accelerated. 
Delivery and wholesale channels providing 
alternative routes to access Greggs 
products, with delivery contributing  
an increasing proportion of total sales.  
Click + Collect rolled out across entire 
estate and delivery made available in  
more than 600 shops.

READ MORE ON PAGES 24-27 

The Greggs  
Pledge launched.
Ten sustainability commitments to continue 
to develop the business in a responsible 
manner over the next five years and beyond. 

READ MORE ON PAGES 34-40 

Key financial highlights

Total sales

£811.3m

-30.5% 
2019: £1,167.9m

Company-managed shop like-for-like (LFL) sales growth

-36.2%

2019: 9.2%

Pre-tax loss

£13.7m

2019: profit before tax £108.3m 

Diluted loss per share

12.9p

2019: earnings per share 85.0p 

Return on capital employed

-2.4%

2019: 19.0% 

Detailed calculations of Alternative Performance Measures, not 
otherwise shown in the income statements and related notes, 
are shown on page 168.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageAT A GLANCE

OUR STRATEGIC PILLARS

With ownership of our supply chain, multiple service 
channels for our customers, and over 2,000 shops 
nationwide, we are in a unique position to make great 
tasting, freshly prepared food accessible to everyone. 
Staying open to serve under Covid-secure conditions 
showed the important role we play in providing  
food-on-the-go to all types of people, as they go about  
their daily lives as best they can, in difficult circumstances. 

Our purpose

To make great tasting, 
freshly prepared food 
accessible to everyone.

Our vision

To be the customers’ 
favourite for food-on-
the-go.

Great tasting, freshly prepared food
You cannot beat freshly baked, freshly prepared  
food. With our great flavours, responsibly-sourced 
ingredients, consistent quality and outstanding  
value – our food-to-go leads the way.

READ MORE ON PAGES 24-25 

Best customer experience
Fast and friendly service is a key reason why customers 
choose Greggs. Great service is not an easy thing to deliver 
under pressure, and our shop teams do an amazing job. 
Through Greggs Rewards, we are able to build long-lasting 
relationships with our customers and reward their loyalty. 

READ MORE ON PAGES 26-28 

Competitive supply chain
By owning our supply chain, we can make  
great tasting, freshly prepared food  
accessible to everyone.

READ MORE ON PAGES 29-30 

First class support teams
We’ve invested heavily in leading-edge systems. They 
equip our support teams to provide the best service to 
their colleagues and ultimately, our customers.

READ MORE ON PAGE 31 

3

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageOur culture and values
Our people are what makes our business successful. We aim to provide them with a 
great place to work, where they feel valued. Our values commit us to being friendly, 
inclusive, honest, respectful, hard-working and appreciative. 

It’s our culture and values that set us apart. And while summarising our unique culture 
‘Being Greggs’ is no easy task, simply put – we love what we do, we have fun and we 
welcome everyone. We’re hard-working, but above all else we’re family; and it doesn’t 
matter who you are, where you’re from or what your favourite bake is… once you walk 
into one of our shops, you’re family too.

AT A GLANCE CONTINUED

Our sustainability commitments
It’s our duty as a responsible business to stand for more than just 
profit. Launched in February 2021, our first, full sustainability 
report, The Greggs Pledge, is about how we can do more to  
help people, protect the planet, and work with our partners to 
change the world for the better. Based on the UN’s Sustainable 
Development Goals, The Greggs Pledge commits us to achieving 
the following goals by 2025:

1.  We will support 1,000 school Breakfast Clubs providing some 70,000 meals each 

school day.

2.  We will create 25 per cent less food waste than in 2018 and will continue to work 

towards 100 per cent of surplus food going to those most in need.

3.  We will have 50 Greggs Outlet shops providing affordable food in areas of social 
deprivation, with a share of profits given to local community organisations. 
4.  30 per cent of the items on our shelves will be healthier choices and we will  

attract customers through education and promotions.

5.  We will be on our way to achieving carbon neutrality by using 100 per cent 

renewable energy across all of our operations.

6.  25 per cent of our shops will feature elements from our Eco-Shop, ‘shop of the  

future’ design.

7.  We will use 25 per cent less packaging, by weight, than in 2019, and any remaining 

packaging will be made from material that is widely recycled.

8.  Our workforce will reflect the communities we serve.
9.  We will have a robust Responsible Sourcing Strategy in place and will report 

annually on progress towards our targets.

10.  We will secure and maintain Tier 1 in the BBFAW Animal Welfare standard.

MORE ABOUT THE GREGGS PLEDGE ON PAGES 34-40.  
TO VIEW FULL REPORT, HTTPS://CORPORATE.GREGGS.CO.UK/RESPONSIBILITY/THE-GREGGS-PLEDGE.

4

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageAT A GLANCE CONTINUED

Our stakeholders
Maintaining good relationships with our essential stakeholders is key to what we 
do. Our stakeholder family includes customers, colleagues, investors, suppliers, 
and of course, the communities that we serve.

How we measure our performance
Constant monitoring of how we meet our objectives and challenges is vital to 
success. Naturally, we look at financial performance through our principal KPIs,  
but doing business in the right way is measured too, with wide-ranging balanced 
scorecards examining every aspect of what we do.  

READ MORE ON PAGES 18-23 

CUSTOMERS

COLLEAGUES

SUPPLIERS

SHAREHOLDERS

LENDERS

COMMUNITIES

5

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageYEAR IN REVIEW

2020’s challenges 
brought out the 
best in our 
people, our  
teams and  
our business.

Full steam ahead with Next Generation Greggs  January
Following successful trials in 2019, we launched our multi-
channel, digital transformation programme in January:  
‘Next Generation Greggs’ – not knowing that it was about  
to become even more important. 

From shop openings and award-winning product launches, the roll out of 
delivery services and Click + Collect to record-breaking sales with Iceland, 
there is a lot to be proud of.

6

Our partnership with Just Eat  July
We rolled out our partnership with  
Just Eat at breakneck speed to over  
600 shops nationwide, meaning more  
and more customers can enjoy Greggs 
from the comfort of their own homes.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageYEAR IN REVIEW CONTINUED

Vegan Victory!  October
Hot on the heels of the success of our 
award-winning Vegan Sausage Roll, 
hailed PETA’s ‘Product Launch of the 
Year’ in 2019, we launched our Vegan 
Steak Bake in 2020. It’s proving a 
welcome addition to our growing vegan 
range, so much so that PETA declared  
it the ‘Best Vegan Pasty’ 2020.

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New Shops  September
We reignited our shop opening programme later in the 
year; focusing mainly on areas where we can provide easy 
access for customers in cars, including new concessions 
in Asda and Tesco, in addition to retail parks and petrol 
forecourts with our franchise partners. 

Click + Collect  October
2020 saw, within a matter of weeks, the rapid development and launch  
of our Click + Collect service, providing a safe, convenient and socially-
distanced way to shop. Successful, early trials meant we were able to  
roll the service out to all company-managed shops in the Autumn.

7

Bake your own  December
Our long-standing partnership with Iceland saw record-
breaking sales in 2020 as many more customers baked 
their Greggs favourites at home. 

Greggs plcSTRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page 
 
 
 
BUSINESS MODEL

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What we do

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We are a modern food-on-the-go retailer that sells millions of sausage rolls every week (and lots of other great products too).
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Manufacturing
We make great tasting, freshly 
prepared food, that customers  
can trust, in our own bakeries.

Logistics
We move our products from our 
bakeries to our shops ourselves,  
which helps us to keep our prices  
as low as possible.

Customer channels
We now have over 2,000 modern shops 
across the UK, including 328 with 
franchise partners, located where our 
customers want us to be. Our delivery 
and wholesale partnerships mean more 
and more customers can enjoy Greggs 
from the comfort of their own homes.

What makes us different

People
We have more than 21,500 amazing 
people, working together to provide 
our customers with the best 
experience, day in, day out.

Customer relationships
Through our award-winning loyalty 
scheme, Greggs Rewards, we are 
building long-term connections  
with our customers.

We are a much-loved and trusted brand that has been making life taste better for our customers, in many ways, for over 80 years.

Purpose
To make good, freshly prepared food  
accessible to everyone.

Quality
We want our products  
to be the best they can be.

Convenience
We want to be able to serve  
customers wherever, whenever  
and however they choose.

Value
We offer great value in an extremely 
competitive market place.

Service
We provide customers with fast  
and friendly service, fixing issues 
without a fuss and rewarding them  
for their loyalty.

The Greggs Pledge: Dedicated to Doing Good

Stronger, Healthier Communities
We pledge to play our part in improving the  
nation’s diet by helping to tackle obesity, providing 
free breakfasts to school children, and giving  
surplus food to those who need it most.

Safer Planet
We pledge to become a carbon neutral, 
zero waste business.

Better Business
We pledge to increase the diversity of our  
workforce, and to use our purchasing power 
responsibly, with the aim of making things  
better in our supply chain.

88

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageCHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Greggs has 
proved itself 
agile and 
adaptable  
in times of 
uncertainty.

Greggs has risen to the most formidable of challenges in 
2020 and, while it has faced setbacks, is recovering well.  
We have worked hard to do the right thing by our people, 
communities and other stakeholders, and have been given 
great support in return. 

9

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageCHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT CONTINUED

Strategic plans have, if anything, 
accelerated and as lockdowns ease we  
are now looking towards growth again  
with an emerging multi-channel offering. 
Our colleagues have shown remarkable 
resilience and tenacity whilst ensuring we 
have provided the best possible customer 
service in very difficult conditions. We move 
into 2021 with optimism and ambition.

Overview
2020 was not the year that any of us planned for, and has 
required the Board and Executive team to work together  
to protect the business and the interests of its many 
stakeholders. Greggs started the year performing  
very strongly but temporarily closed the shop estate in 
March 2020 as a consequence of the Covid-19 outbreak. 
Greggs sought debt financing to support its short-term 
liquidity requirements, which was forthcoming from both 
government and commercial sources due to the financial 
strength of the business and its significant contribution  
to the UK economy. Loans from the Bank of England under 
the CCFF facility were fully repaid by the end of the year and 
the business finished the year with net cash in the bank.

The Company’s trading performance since reopening its 
shops in the middle of 2020 has been strong in the context 
of prevailing mobility restrictions. Greggs has a broad base 
of shops in locations that have remained accessible to 
customers who rely on us when they need to be away from 
the home. For those at home we have accelerated our 
digital offering, with delivery now making a significant 
contribution to company-managed shop sales.

With lower-than-normal sales levels Greggs made a loss  
in 2020; the first time in its history as a listed business. 

10

Government support has been essential to mitigate the 
impact of Covid-19 and protect as many jobs as possible 
through this period. Shareholders have made a significant 
contribution, forgoing dividends and accepting reduced 
investment in the business, and there has been terrific 
support from our employees. The Board has been very 
focused on balancing the needs of all the Company’s 
stakeholders as it has made decisions this year and I am 
proud of the manner in which it has done so. We have also 
balanced the short-term tactical needs of the business 
with protecting our long-term ambition and adapting our 
strategy to market changes.

Our people and values
This crisis has, inevitably, put great pressure on the whole 
Greggs team. The collegiate nature of our people has come 
to the fore, standing by each other and the communities 
that we serve. There have been many sacrifices, but we 
have stayed true to the values that underpin the great 
culture that exists within Greggs.

From the initial closure period until the half year we 
maintained full pay for our furloughed colleagues. I am 
grateful to the management team, who went without their 
pay award, and to the Executive and my Board colleagues 
who volunteered reductions in their salaries and fees to 
protect the business in the most difficult period of 2020.

The communities that we rely on have needed additional 
support in 2020 and the Greggs Foundation has played a 
leading role, increasing its investment in the provision of 
hardship relief grants and offering extra help to hard-hit 
community organisations. The Trustees of the Greggs 
Foundation have drawn on its reserves to do so, and this 
has leveraged additional funding from others who 
recognise the team’s ability to deliver help to the heart  
of communities.

Our colleagues have proved, once again, what a wonderful 
team they are. However it has been sad to say goodbye to 
some as we made reductions in the number employed to 
reflect the reality of the trading environment and to ensure 
that Greggs maintains its competitive edge. To them, and 
to those who continue to provide great service to our 
customers every day, I would like to say “thank you” on 
behalf of the Company and its shareholders.

The Board
We have been fortunate to have a period of stability on  
the Board at a time when experience of the business was 
of great importance to our stewardship role. The Board  
has provided its support to the Executive, who had to make 
many difficult decisions, often in areas that have been new 
to most of us.

Like so many we have adapted to communicating virtually. 
This has worked well, making it easier to be in regular 
contact with management. The normal processes by which 
we listen to the views of employees have been challenged 
by the inability to meet in person, but we have found virtual 
forums to be a good alternative under the circumstances.

Risk management has clearly been a critical area for the 
Board in 2020. In addition to the Covid-related risks the 
Board scrutinised the Company’s developments in digital 
channels and reviewed its preparedness for the possibility 
of a ‘no deal’ exit from the European Union. Further details 
of the Board’s work are included in the governance and 
committee sections of the annual report.

Greggs supports diversity and inclusion initiatives across 
the business and on the Board and we expect to see 
tangible progress during 2021 as we develop our plans to 
grow as a diverse company that is representative of the 
communities we serve.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageCHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT CONTINUED

We continue to plan for succession for both Executive  
and Non-Executive directors. Normally, under the UK 
Corporate Governance Code, I would have been expected 
to step down in 2020 but the Board has asked me to remain 
in place to provide continuity of leadership during a period 
when we are likely to address CEO succession as Roger 
Whiteside (62) approaches retirement age. We are grateful 
to Roger for his willingness to be flexible regarding his 
retirement date to ensure the best possible succession 
and transition process.

A year ago we anticipated the publication of ‘The Greggs 
Pledge’, our vision of how we will continue to develop the 
business in a responsible manner. This was delayed by the 
need to focus on the immediate challenges of 2020 but  
I am delighted that it has now been launched. It describes 
our targets for responsible business over the longer term 
and will be an important part of Greggs’ competitive 
positioning and contribution to society in the years ahead. 
Our Chief Executive Roger Whiteside outlines the key 
elements of this in his report.

Greggs is a great business and we are confident for  
the future.

Ian Durant
Chairman
16 March 2021

Dividend
The planned final dividend for 2019 was a casualty of the 
need to preserve cash in the spring of 2020 and it has not 
been possible or appropriate to pay any further dividends 
since. In order to recommence a dividend distribution, the 
Company will need to return to a level of profitability and 
cash generation sufficient to support its investment 
programme whilst maintaining appropriate liquidity.

Looking ahead
Greggs is a business which has proved itself agile and 
adaptable to operating in times of great uncertainty whilst 
continuing to make strategic progress. Digital channels 
are increasingly contributing to the recovery of sales levels 
and opportunities for estate growth appear to be as good, 
if not better, than they were a year ago.

11

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageCHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT

Greggs has 
demonstrated  
its resilience and 
capability to 
operate under 
such challenging 
conditions.

In a year like no other I believe that the Covid-19 crisis  
has in many ways demonstrated the strength of Greggs.

12

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageCHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT CONTINUED

It has shown the resilience of our business 
model, but most of all the strength of our 
people who have worked hard throughout  
to maintain an essential service providing 
takeaway food to customers unable to work 
from home, many of whom were themselves 
key workers. I would like to take this 
opportunity to thank all of our people, who 
can be proud of the part we played in our 
nation’s time of need.

Greggs began the new year with exceptional momentum 
following a record-breaking 2019. Strong growth in 
customer numbers continued into January and February, 
marred only by our first ever flood at our Welsh bakery  
and logistics site. This gave us our first taste of crisis 
management in the year – little did we know then of what 
was to come. 

Safety first
When the Covid-19 crisis began in March we quickly 
prioritised safety so that we could continue providing an 
essential service with takeaway food. When the first national 
lock down was announced the Government’s “Stay at Home” 
safety message proved so strong that we decided that,  

in common with others in our sector, we should temporarily 
close our shops, a move that had support from our 
colleagues and customers. That’s when we saw our 
colleagues across the country pull out all the stops to close 
down our shops and supply chain safely, and to redistribute 
our unused food to those who would benefit from it the most, 
whilst also making sure that we thanked our NHS heroes with 
free hot drinks and treats. We made many heroes of our 
own as colleagues worked tirelessly to move the food to 
local charities from our shops and distribution centres. 

Securing our financial position
Having made the decision to close we moved quickly to 
secure our financial position. We immediately accessed 
the support that the Government made available in the 
form of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)  
and topped this up to full pay for our colleagues whilst our 
shops were closed. Cash preservation was critical and we 
acted quickly to stop dividend payments to shareholders, 
pause new shop openings and capital investment projects, 
begin negotiating rent reductions, and gave up the 
management pay award alongside Directors taking 
voluntary salary reductions. Meanwhile we successfully 
accessed the Bank of England’s CCFF loan scheme as a 
temporary source of liquidity whilst commercial borrowing 
facilities were established.

STRATEGIC HIGHLIGHTS

 – Multi-channel development strategy 
accelerated: delivery and wholesale 
channels providing alternative routes to 
access Greggs products. Click + Collect 
rolled out across the entire estate and 
delivery made available in over 600 shops. 

 – Shop opening pipeline reactivated: 

demonstrating confidence in long-term 
growth opportunity.

 – Covid-secure operating model 

established: shop and supply chain 
operations adapted to safeguard team 
members and customers while operating 
during Covid-19. 

 – Resilience through breadth of shop estate 
and customer base: variety and reach of 
shop estate, in locations accessible  
to customers who need to be away from 
the home. 

 – Investment in supply chain and systems: 

benefits of upgrade programmes to 
modernise the core business processes 
and IT systems evident as programmes 
near completion. 

 – The Greggs Pledge launched:  

ten sustainability commitments to 
continue to develop the business in  
a responsible manner over the next  
five years and beyond. 

Delivery sales are 

9.6 per cent 

of company managed shop sales in the 
ten weeks to 13 March 2021.

13

3,000

Our target number of shops 
in the years ahead.

READ MORE ON PAGES 24-40 

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageCHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT CONTINUED

“  We launched our Next 
Generation Greggs 
programme in January 
2020 and it is now clear 
that the ambition in that 
strategic plan to increase 
access to Greggs has 
become more relevant 
than ever.”

14

Restarting our operations and reopening our shops
Closing down our operations and shops took a matter of 
days, but starting everything back up again took very 
careful planning by a small, dedicated team who continued 
working throughout the crisis. A massive exercise to equip 
our operations to open under Covid-secure conditions  
saw us begin reopening in June, initially under lockdown 
conditions, as the country prepared to relax restrictions 
over the summer. As we restarted our internal distribution 
service to shops we also took the significant step of 
moving to a single daily delivery, minimising the number  
of shops receiving a delivery during opening hours.

Having demonstrated that we could continue serving 
customers safely in lockdown conditions we were  
well-positioned to remain open when new restrictions 
returned in the winter. Our sales during the second half 
correlated with the differing tiers of restriction around  
the UK and demonstrated that there was demand for our 
takeaway food and drinks in all conditions from customers 
unable to work from home.

While we were able to recommence trading across the 
shop estate in July, customer footfall has been 
significantly reduced by the restrictions and Government 
support has been vital both in supporting jobs and 
mitigating business losses. Once we had established the 
level of demand to be expected under social distancing we 
took action to reduce the size of our workforce, thereby 
reducing use of the CJRS only to situations where job 
impacts were judged to be temporary. Meanwhile we 
arranged a commercial lending facility to allow us to repay 
the Bank of England CCFF loan.

Financial results 
The Covid-19 crisis of 2020 has resulted in Greggs reporting 
its first ever loss since flotation of £13.7 million before tax 
(2019: profit before tax of £108.3 million). 

Total sales fell 30.5 per cent to £811.3 million and like-for-like 
sales in company-managed shops declined by 36.2 per cent.

The actions taken to secure our financial position resulted 
in a £36.8 million net cash position at the end of 2020 
(2019: £91.3 million), despite seeing an overall net cash 
outflow of £54.5 million in the year. The addition of a new 
borrowing facility has left us with a robust balance sheet 
able to withstand further shocks.

Accelerating our strategic plan
Whilst we cannot escape the short-term financial impact of 
Covid-19 on our business we have been determined to keep 
our strategic plan on track. Many of the changes we have 
been observing in customer behaviour during this crisis 
are trends that had previously been identified and as a 
result we saw the opportunity to accelerate our strategic 
development to emerge stronger in the years ahead.

We launched our Next Generation Greggs programme in 
January 2020 and it is now clear that the ambition in that 
strategic plan to increase access to Greggs has become 
more relevant than ever.

Best customer experience 
Digital technology had been identified in our plans  
as the key opportunity for Greggs to increase market  
share by increasing customer loyalty, menu choice  
and multi-channel reach.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageCHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT CONTINUED

Successful trials in 2019 allowed us to move quickly under 
Covid-19 to roll out new services nationwide including a new 
Greggs Rewards offer, Greggs Click + Collect, and delivery 
with our partners Just Eat. In a matter of months delivery 
was made available in over 600 shops and in the fourth 
quarter accounted for 5.5 per cent of company-managed 
shop sales. Delivery is extending our reach and taking 
market share and we are planning further roll out in the 
year ahead.

Similarly, successful trials of our improved Greggs 
Rewards loyalty scheme in 2019 meant that we were able  
to accelerate our plans and launch it nationwide in October. 
Our development team also applied the learnings from 
earlier trials to launch our new Click + Collect service 
making it available to all shops by September. These two 
new services have been brought together in our new App 
which is now being piloted ahead of launch in the second 
quarter of 2021.

Marketing continues to play a key role in driving brand 
awareness amongst target customer groups and we have 
invested in a stronger team to compete in digital channels 
and develop our customer relationship management 
capabilities as new systems are deployed during 2021.

Our shops
While new digital channels present opportunities to 
compete for market share our shop network remains key 
to our growth ambitions providing both convenient access 
to passing customers as well as nationwide reach for 
delivery and collection services.

this crisis has highlighted that the diversity of our estate 
means we are not overly dependent on any one location 
type and downturns in some areas are balanced by 
improvements in others.

Shops accessed by car have been the strongest performers 
during the Covid-19 crisis and these location types already 
formed most of our new shop pipeline. This gave us the 
confidence to restart our new shop opening programme  
in the second half and we are targeting a rapid return to 
previously planned growth levels of circa 100 net new shops 
for the year ahead.

In addition, new opportunities now exist in previously 
under-represented locations such as central London and 
mass transport hubs where availability and rental levels  
will now make those locations more accessible. Similarly, 
relocation opportunities to expand into bigger, better shop 
space are expected in existing locations that will support 
our continued drive to improve the quality of the estate  
and develop new opportunities with additional seating. 
With a strong pipeline and support from multi-channel 
development we have raised our target for the UK estate  
to 3,000 shops.

In 2020 we opened 84 new shops (including 35 franchised 
units) and closed 56, growing the estate to 2,078 shops  
as at 2 January 2021, 328 of which are franchised shops 
operated by our partners. The shop estate is in good 
condition and refurbishment costs will remain low in  
the short term while we establish space and equipment 
requirements for new services in our full range of formats.

Existing trends towards increased flexible home working 
and online shopping have seen a material acceleration 
during this crisis and longer term we expect to see a 
further shift away from office-dependent catchments  
and weaker shopping locations. Our experience during  

Great tasting freshly prepared food 
Having started 2020 with the launch of a new award-winning 
vegan steak bake alongside our first vegan doughnut our 
product development plans came to an abrupt stop as shops 
were closed and our teams were put on furlough.

15

Our ambition to be the nation’s favourite brand for food-
on-the-go requires us to offer a varied menu suited to all 
times of the day – breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our strategy 
remains to add to our existing credentials for freshly 
prepared, great value, great tasting bakery food by building 
our reputation for product categories with growing 
demand in the market. The addition of new digital channels 
strengthens our ability to test new product areas and avoid 
some of the maturity costs in gaining customer support for 
products not already associated with our brand.

Work restarted in the final quarter of last year to plan for 
new product introductions once customer restrictions  
are lifted and demand conditions improve. Strategic areas 
of opportunity include our coffee menu which will be 
extended this year alongside the rapid roll out of our 
fully-tested new coffee machine improving speed,  
quality and range options.

Hot food also remains a key area of focus both for self-
selection in our shop fronts and increasingly from behind 
the counter for delivery. The combination of these two 
opens the opportunity for development of our offer to 
compete in later day trading which we tested in trial shops 
last year and will see further extension.

The growing trend for greater dietary choice shows no 
signs of slowing. With two successful new vegan-friendly 
lines introduced last year we will once again be adding to 
our existing range, offering vegan-friendly versions of  
our best-selling lines.

Covid-19 restrictions saw increased demand in supermarkets 
including our long-term partners Iceland. Sales of our Greggs 
products for home baking leapt to record levels, introducing 
new customers to our brand for home consumption and 
providing a platform for further development including the 
introduction of vegan products to the range.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageCHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT CONTINUED

Interest in healthier food choices is driving our sector-
leading standards in the provision of information to 
customers to enable them to make informed choices.  
We have now completed successful trials in preparation 
for the requirement to move to full labelling of sandwiches 
made in shops, which is due later this year.

Product improvements will see us make further progress 
with salt, fat, sugar and calorie targets alongside 
continued progress in our animal welfare standards.  
Since 2016 we have removed 20 per cent of the sugar from 
our pastries, yoghurts, biscuits and cakes and, over the 
coming four years, will reduce the calories and salt in  
a third of our products to make sure that they meet or 
exceed the recommendations of Public Health England. 
The options for customers will be further increased when 
we trial custom ordering for sandwiches through digital 
channels later in the year.

Competitive supply chain 
Even before Covid-19 arrived our supply chain teams began 
2020 in crisis mode having to cope, in February, with our first 
ever flood leading to the closure of our bakery and logistics 
site in Wales. We could not have expected then that we would 
remain in crisis for the rest of the year and into 2021.

Our teams have been outstanding in managing throughout 
this period, coping with constantly changing shop closures 
alongside managing the infection risk seen in food 
manufacturing sites around the UK.

Our ability to manage the impact of temporary site closures 
benefited greatly from our major investment programme 
over recent years in which we both centralised and 
automated manufacturing, allowing us to build and distribute 
from stock across the country. In response to the 
requirement to minimise social contact we also radically 
changed our distribution operation resulting in improved 
delivery efficiency which will now benefit the business  
longer term. As a consequence, we have created additional 
distribution capacity and are now able to postpone 
investment at our Birmingham site, which had been 
scheduled to commence in 2021, for a number of years.

In addition to the tireless work involved in maintaining 
supplies, our teams continued to make progress on our key 
strategic projects which will be completed in the year ahead. 
These include the roll out of new SAP systems to all 
remaining sites and commissioning of our new automated 
frozen distribution facility at our Balliol Park distribution 
centre in Newcastle.

New shop openings, alongside an anticipated return to 
strong sales growth, will require investment in additional 
manufacturing capacity beginning with our savoury 
manufacturing plant at Balliol Park where a £9 million 
programme of automation is already underway and is 
planned for completion later this year. Planning will also 
commence to address our capacity needs looking forward 
to our next target of 3,000 shops in the years ahead.

“  Our teams have been 
outstanding in managing 
throughout this period”

Roger Whiteside OBE, Chief Executive

First class support teams
As with our supply chain, our investment in recent years  
to modernise our core business processes and IT systems 
greatly assisted us in supporting the business as we 
adapted to working from home, often with skeleton teams 
when numbers on furlough were at their peak. Our 
investment in modern office working tools alongside 
business intelligence reporting has made for efficient 
remote working. Office working remains at a minimum and 
we are planning for increased flexible working to remain 
for the long term once restrictions are lifted.

Accelerated investment in our digital capabilities has been  
a key focus during 2020 and our IT development teams have 
been fully engaged in our Next Generation Greggs programme 
which saw rapid roll out of digital customer channels and a 
new Greggs Rewards loyalty scheme in the second half of 
the year. Progress made last year will see us launch a new 
Greggs App in 2021 followed by new systems to help our 
shop teams satisfy demand in these new channels, improve 
the customer experience and offer new service features.

Alongside this work we were also able to maintain progress 
on SAP deployment in our supply chain at sites in Enfield and 
Manchester despite Covid-19 constraints and this leaves us 
well positioned to complete the roll out of this programme 
in the year ahead.

16

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageCHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT CONTINUED

The Greggs Pledge
Greggs has a proud reputation of giving back. Since  
John Gregg founded the business in 1939, we have always 
tried to do the right thing by our people, customers, 
suppliers and communities. These family values are  
at the heart of our culture.

Today, Greggs is a company with a national presence, 
supporting hundreds of suppliers, employing thousands  
of people, and serving millions of consumers. The way  
we operate affects a great many people so being a good 
business is more important than ever.

Following an extensive engagement exercise in 2019 we set 
out last year to launch the Greggs Pledge in the form of our 
first full sustainability report. Unfortunately, our launch 
plan had to be put on hold but our commitment remains 
undiminished, and the Greggs Pledge was launched in 
February 2021. The global pandemic has reminded us all of 
the importance of community, the power of kindness, and 
the value of collaboration to tackle our biggest problems. 
Now, we must work together to rebuild our economies and 
address the complex social and environmental problems 
that we were already grappling with.

The Greggs Pledge commits us to ten things that we’re 
doing to help make the world a better place by 2025 –  
and beyond. We arrived at these pledges by talking with  
our own people and our external stakeholders, and by 
considering the issues that are most relevant to our 
business. Our pledges align with the ambitions of the  
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We have chosen to concentrate our efforts on the 
challenges where we think we can make the most 
difference:

17

We want to help build stronger, healthier communities. 
Even before the pandemic ravaged our economy, far too 
many people were struggling with poverty and hunger in this 
country. The Greggs Breakfast Clubs feed around 39,000 
children every school day and we will continue to grow the 
scheme. We are also doing what we can to ensure that 
perfectly good food doesn’t get wasted, but instead gets  
to people who need it. We recognise that poor nutrition is 
another issue where we have a role to play and are doing 
more to guide our customers towards healthier choices. 

We want to make our planet safer.
The impacts of unchecked climate change would be 
catastrophic. We want to make Greggs a carbon neutral, zero 
waste business. We actively support the BRC’s Climate Action 
Roadmap which aims to make the UK’s retail industry net 
zero, well ahead of the Government’s 2050 target. In addition, 
we are reducing our use of packaging, looking at how we can 
apply ‘circular economy’ thinking to our business and working 
with our suppliers to make efficient use of resources.

We want to be a better business.
The corporate world can be a powerful force for good when 
it is guided by a moral compass. As well as continuing to 
support our communities by paying our taxes and providing 
thousands of fairly-paid jobs, we are redoubling our efforts 
to make Greggs a great place to work. We are also setting 
high standards for what we purchase, encouraging our 
suppliers to raise their game too.

We will give back to the communities that support us and 
take less from the environment that we all rely on. I want 
Greggs to play a meaningful role not just in getting Britain 
back on its feet but in getting us to a better place.

Our separate sustainability report provides a full 
description of our activities alongside measurable  
targets we have set ourselves across all these areas.
https://corporate.greggs.co.uk/the-greggs-pledge

Current trading and outlook
Having made good progress through the second half of 
2020 we have made a better-than-expected start to 2021 
given the extent of lockdown conditions and the particular 
challenges in Scotland where our shops have been closed 
to walk-in customers. In the ten weeks to 13 March 2021, 
company-managed shop like-for-like sales were down  
28.8 per cent year-on-year. Outside of Scotland,  
company-managed shop like-for-like sales in the rest  
of the UK estate were down 22.4 per cent year-on-year.  
We have seen an improving trend each week with delivery 
sales being particularly strong in these conditions, at  
9.6 per cent of total company-managed shop sales in the 
year to date.

Greggs is well placed to participate in the recovery from 
the pandemic and has demonstrated its resilience and 
capability to operate under such challenging conditions. 
With good liquidity and growing digital capabilities Greggs 
is an attractive proposition that can grow further in new 
locations, channels and dayparts. These opportunities  
will benefit all of our stakeholders in the years to come.

Roger Whiteside OBE
Chief Executive
16 March 2021

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageKEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

We use eight key financial performance indicators to monitor the performance of the Group against our strategy. The definition of these 
KPIs and our performance over the last five years is detailed below. All of the underlying measures exclude the exceptional items detailed  
in Note 4. Commentary on these KPIs is contained within the Financial Review.

Total sales growth

-30.5%

-30.5%

Like-for-like sales growth

-36.2%

-36.2%

13.5%

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

7.2%

7.4%

7.0%

Profit before tax (PBT)

-£13.7m

9.2%

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2.9%

3.7%

4.2%

-£13.7

-£13.7
2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

£114.2

£108.3

£89.8

£82.6

£81.8

£71.9

£80.3

£75.1

The percentage year-on-year change in total sales  
for the Group.

Compares year-on-year cash sales in our company-
managed shops, excluding any shops which opened, 
relocated or closed in the current or prior year. Like-for-
like sales growth includes selling price inflation and 
excludes VAT. The impact of shop refurbishment is 
included in like-for-like sales growth. The calculation  
of these figures can be found on page 168. 

Reflects the performance of the Group before taxation 
impacts and the underlying measure excludes any 
exceptional items arising in the year. 

Following the adoption of IFRS 16 in 2019 the Group started 
using PBT as a KPI rather than operating profit as PBT 
includes the full cost of the Group’s property leases.

18

Underlying

Including exceptional items

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page 
 
 
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS CONTINUED

Diluted earnings per share (pence)

-12.9p

Net cash inflow from operating activities  
after lease payments (£m)

£1.5m

Return on capital employed (ROCE)

-2.4%

-12.9p

-12.9p
2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

89.7p

85.0p

£1.5
2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

£169.5

£136.2

£116.9

£117.6

Operating profit adjusted for the impact of non-cash 
items, working capital movements and repayment of  
the principal on lease liabilities. The calculation of these 
figures can be found on page 168.

70.3p

64.5p

63.5p

55.7p

60.8p

56.7p

-2.4%

-2.4%
2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

19.0%
19

20.0%
20

25.2%

27.4%

23.7%

26.9%

26.3%

28.1%

Calculated by dividing profit attributable to shareholders by the 
average number of dilutive outstanding shares. The underlying 
measure excludes any exceptional items arising in the year. 

Capital expenditure (£m)

£61.6m

Liquidity (£m)

£106.8m

Calculated by dividing profit before tax by the average total 
assets less current liabilities for the year. The underlying 
measure excludes any exceptional items arising in the year. 
The calculation of these figures can be found on page 168. 

Underlying

Including exceptional items

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

£61.6

£86.0

£73.0

£70.4

£80.4

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

£54.5

£46.0

£106.8

£91.3

£88.2

The total amount incurred in the year on investment  
in fixed assets. 

Is calculated as cash and cash equivalents plus undrawn 
committed facilities, taking into account required 
minimum liquidity covenants. 

19

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageNON-FINANCIAL KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Carbon footprint

We, like others, recognise the urgency 
needed to address climate change. We 
continue to hold the Carbon Trust Standard 
in recognition of our work on carbon 
efficiencies and our Environmental 
Management System is certificated to  
ISO 14001:2015. In addition, we disclose  
our GHG emissions through the Carbon 
Disclosure Project (CDP). We continue to 
drive efficiencies to further reduce our 
carbon footprint in a bid to target a net  
zero impact. In 2020, we increased our 
gross location based intensity (tonnes  
per £m turnover) impact by 2.14%.*

As a result, our market-based carbon 
footprint for the 2020 financial year was 
30,122 tonnes of carbon dioxide and 
equivalent gases (CO2e), with an intensity of 
37.35 tonnes of CO2e per £million turnover, 
which accounts for our efforts in generating 
and purchasing low-carbon energy. 

*This was driven largely by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic such as shop 
closures, reduced and phased operations required in manufacturing sites and 
reduced sales.

20

Global GHG emissions data 
In line with Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and 
Directors Report) Regulations 2013, we are reporting our 
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part of our annual 
strategic report. Our GHG reporting year is the same as our 
financial year from 29 December 2019 to 2 January 2021. 

We have reported on all of the emission sources which we 
deem ourselves to be responsible for, as required under 
the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors 
Report) Regulations 2013. These sources fall within our 
operational control and financial boundaries and include 
emissions from manufacturing, retail and distribution sites 
and the operation of our distribution fleet. We do not have 
responsibility for any emission sources that are outside of 
our operational control. The methodology used to 
calculate our emissions is based on the UK Government’s 
Environmental Reporting Guidance (2019) and emissions 
factors from UK Government’s GHG Conversion Factors  
for Company Reporting (2020).

“  In 2020, we set up a  
Net Zero Taskforce to 
challenge the climate 
impact of every area of 
our operations and drive 
action to reduce it.”

Dual emissions reporting 
Overall emissions have been presented to reflect both 
location and market-based methodologies, affecting  
both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. 

Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting
In line with Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) 
requirements, we have also reported on the underlying 
energy used to calculate Group GHG gas emissions. 

Where original data was provided in litres of diesel, gas oil 
or petrol it has been converted to kWh. The reporting 
boundary has been determined by operational control, 
whereby all emissions within operational control have  
been included within scope, i.e. Scope 1 and 2. 

FULL TABLE ON PAGE 21 

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageNON-FINANCIAL KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS CONTINUED

Location & Market based emissions
Scope 1

Scope 1

Scope 2 (Location based)

Scope 2 (Market based)

Gross emissions (Location based)

Gross emissions (Market based)

Intensity measure (Location based)

Intensity measure (Market based)

Combustion of fuel & operation of facilities

Refrigerants

Electricity purchased for own use (inc PV Generated & green tariff)

Residual electricity
Total scope 1+2 CO2e emissions
Total scope 1+2 CO2e emissions to account for use of renewable energy
Tonnes of CO2 per £m turnover
Percentage change 2020 compared with 2019
Tonnes of CO2e per £m turnover
Intensity percentage change accounting for renewable energy 2020 
compared with 2019

Location based method is provided for disclosure only 

UK Underlying energy use (KWH)

Current reporting year 2020 
(tonnes of CO2e)

Comparison year 2019 
(tonnes of CO2e)

Base year (2015)  
(tonnes of CO2e)

23,112

4,541

39,860

2,469

67,513

30,122

83.71

2.14%

37.35

4.45%

33,155

5,513

57,294

2,909

95,962

41,577

82.54

35.76

31,509

4,360

89,375

88,907

125,244

124,776

149.86

(44.14%)

149.29

(74.98%)

Total Scope 1 Energy use

Total Scope 2 Energy use

Total Energy use (KWH)

Combustion of fuel & operation of facilities (Natural Gas, fleet fuel oils, 
company cars & LPG)

Electricity

98,224,487

170,968,398

269,192,885

141,717,583

224,154,292

365,871,875

142,579,395

193,372,954

335,952,349

Energy efficiency initiatives 
Greggs is committed to reducing the energy consumption 
and the carbon impact from our operations. Last year we 
set our target of net zero operational carbon emissions 
across the organisation by 2040 and have put in place a 
plan aligned to the BRC’s Climate Roadmap. We have moved 
to renewable electricity sources across 96 per cent of our 
estate and will look to investigate other renewable energy 
sources for our remaining Scope 1 emissions. We recognise 
that our value chain emissions are significant and in 2021 
we will look to measure our Scope 3 emissions and focus 
our attention on where we have significant impact. 

We’ve carried out a number of energy efficiency initiatives 
across the Greggs estate. These include:

Our logistics teams have continued to identify 
opportunities to improve performance, including:

 – An LED lighting replacement programme;
 – Investing in energy efficient equipment;
 – Completing ESOS Phase 2 during 2019 and continuing to 
investigate and implement the opportunities identified; 
and

 – Investing £26 million in a new coldstore facility in 

Newcastle, which will bring third-party storage in-house.

 – The use of telematics to improve miles per gallon  

and drivers’ driving style;

 – Changing our distribution model and consequently, 

reducing radial distance (km) by 20 per cent; 

 – Purchasing our first double-decker vehicle which has a 
50 per cent greater carrying capacity and a subsequent 
reduction in kilometres travelled. We plan to order 
further vehicles in 2021; and

 – Carrying out vehicle fridge unit trials (direct drive and 

hybrid) and if successful, will look to roll out.

21

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageNON-FINANCIAL KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS CONTINUED

Greggs Net Zero 
Taskforce

We have pledged to become a net carbon neutral business. 
We are proud signatories of the British Retail Consortium’s 
‘Climate Action Roadmap’ looking to share knowledge, best 
practice and commitment across the industry. We have 
aligned our ambitions with the BRC’s targets:

Scope 2: Net Zero by 2030
Scope 1: Net Zero by 2035
Scope 3: Net Zero by 2040

This means that Greggs will be Net Zero by 2040 –  
ten years ahead of the current UK Government plan.

We have set up a Net Zero Taskforce made up of key people 
from across our business who, together, are helping us 
formulate our plan to challenge the climate impact of every 
area of our operations and drive action to reduce it.

Our efforts to cut carbon from our business have already 
been recognised by the Carbon Trust: we are proud to hold 
the Carbon Trust Standard which is a mark of excellence 
given to organisations that demonstrate success in cutting 
their carbon footprint. We are now working with them to 
model our Scope 3 emissions – indirect emissions that 
occur in our value chain. This will tell us where the hotspots 
are in our supply chain, and help us to identify 
opportunities for improving efficiency.

During 2021 we will… complete the mapping of our whole 
carbon footprint, enabling us to set science-based targets 
and plot our pathway to Net Zero.

22

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGENDER OF WORKFORCE

Gender of workforce

We are proud of our reputation for bringing the best  
talent through the business regardless of gender and  
that 69 per cent of our total workforce is female, almost 
half of our management population is female and, of the 
seven Board posts, three are held by women.

Board

Senior managers

Other managers

All employees

Female

3

5 1

226

14,956

Male

4

62

253

6,576

Total

7

115

479

21,538

Notes: 
Headcount figures at 31 December 2020. 69% of total workforce is female 
(14,956 of 21,538).

For info: There are six employees whose gender is recorded as ‘Unknown’ or 
‘Undeclared’, hence the total figure of 21,538 is not the sum of the Female and 
Male totals.

Total number of employees

21,538

  Female 69%
  Male 31%

23

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION

GREAT  
TASTING, 
FRESHLY  
PREPARED  
FOOD

You cannot beat freshly baked, freshly 
prepared food. With our great flavours, 
responsibly-sourced ingredients, 
consistent quality and outstanding 
value – our food-to-go leads the way.

A new award-winning vegan launch got us off to a great 
start but when the pandemic struck, our teams did a great 
job of focusing on our core best-sellers, maintaining an 
essential service under Covid-secure conditions. 

For those customers able to stay at home, we moved 
quickly to bring Greggs to them, partnering with  
Just Eat for delivery, and ramping up supplies of  
our home-baking range sold through Iceland.

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Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STRATEGY IN ACTION CONTINUED

Vegan victory
Hot on the heels of the success of our award-winning 
Vegan Sausage Roll, hailed PETA’s ‘Product Launch of  
the Year’ in 2019, we launched our Vegan Steak Bake  
in early 2020. It’s proving a welcome addition to our  
growing vegan range, and PETA declared it the  
‘Best Vegan Pasty’, 2020.

Bake your own
Our long-standing partnership with Iceland saw  
record-breaking sales in 2020 as many more customers  
baked their Greggs favourites at home. We further extended 
our range with Iceland, including the introduction of the 
eagerly anticipated Vegan Sausage Roll earlier this year.

Plans for 2021
We have a strong pipeline of new product developments, 
with many opportunities to improve our product offer and 
further develop our position in the food-on-the-go market. 

We will continue to expand delivery through Just Eat, 
adding more locations and choice across the menu  
and introduce options for evening consumption.

25

Our partnership with Just Eat 
In 2020, our Just Eat partnership was rolled out  
at breakneck speed to over 600 shops nationwide, 
meaning more and more customers can enjoy  
Greggs from the comfort of their own homes.  
In 2020 we launched our Pizza Sharing Boxes 
exclusively with Just Eat, alongside our single  
slice and meal deal offers.

We have big plans to further-expand delivery 
in the coming year, adding more locations 
and choice across the menu to strengthen 
our delivery proposition throughout the day, 
bringing our best customer offering to more 
customers and homes across the UK.

Working in partnership, we’ve created significant 
awareness that Greggs is exclusively available for 
delivery on Just Eat, via national advertising and 
digital communication. 

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shops and counting

603
220
700K

customers

cities and towns across the UK, serving over

We’ve already fulfilled and delivered over 

1.4 million

orders

A top-5 brand for delivery from a standing start* 

*based on NPD Crest data

Greggs plcSTRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STRATEGY IN ACTION CONTINUED

BEST 
CUSTOMER 
EXPERIENCE

Fast and friendly service is a key 
reason why customers choose Greggs. 
Great service is not an easy thing to 
deliver under pressure, and our shop 
teams do an amazing job. Through 
Greggs Rewards, we are able to build 
long-lasting relationships with our 
customers and reward their loyalty.

Our colleagues are amazing. And while that’s no surprise  
to us, 2020 in particular highlighted the strength we have  
in our people as they rose to the many challenges that we 
faced as a business. Adapting to work under Covid-secure 
conditions has brought out the best in us as we fought to 
maintain our services in all parts of our business, whether 
in shops, our supply chain, or amongst our staff who were 
working at home.

Our shop teams remained enthusiastic and committed  
as the Covid-19 guidelines evolved over time, and ensured 
our customers received the same warm welcome and  
tasty products they know and love.

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OUR STRATEGY IN ACTION CONTINUED

Full steam ahead with Next Generation Greggs
While we had to adapt our operations radically to be 
Covid-secure, we were also determined not to let the 
pandemic slow down progress with our strategic plan.

Following successful trials in 2019, we launched our 
multi-channel digital transformation programme in 
January: ‘Next Generation Greggs’ – not knowing that  
it was about to become even more important. 

With more and more customers looking for options such as 
Click + Collect or home delivery, we ramped up our efforts, 
with accelerated plans and digital capabilities, rolling out 
new services including an enhanced Greggs Rewards offer, 
a brand new Click + Collect service and nationwide delivery 
with our partner, Just Eat.

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Click + Collect
2020 saw, within a matter of weeks, the rapid development 
and launch of our Click + Collect service, providing a safe 
and socially-distanced way to shop. Successful early trials 
meant we were able to roll out to all company-managed 
shops in the Autumn. 

Our Click + Collect offer provides customers with the  
ability to choose their shop and collection time, and allows 
them to order a range of Greggs products in advance, 
ready for collection.

New shops
While the pandemic has prevented many customers from 
going about their lives as normal, for many others unable to 
work from home, or needing to travel for essential reasons, 
our food-on-the-go services have been vital. That has 
certainly been the case for those customers using cars 
instead of public transport.

We reignited our shop opening programme in the latter part 
of the year; focusing mainly on areas where we can provide 
easy access for customers in cars, (given the switch away 
from public transport due to the pandemic), including new 
concessions in Asda and Tesco, in addition to retail parks 
and petrol forecourts with our franchise partners 

With rental levels falling and increased availability of 
premises, we are also taking advantage of this opportunity 
to grow our presence in central London, including two 
units at St. Pancras Station.

Our improved Rewards scheme
We’ve improved our digital channels significantly and 
evolved the ways that we can connect with our customers. 
Our new and enhanced loyalty programme allows 
customers to earn rewards right across our range, not  
just for buying coffee, creating more reasons for them  
to choose Greggs and more opportunities for them to 
connect with their favourite food-on-the-go brand.

Our new rewards scheme is already proving popular; 
driving new memberships, increased spend and more 
frequent visits.

In 2020 we opened 

84 

new shops (including 35 with our franchise partners).

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St Pancras Station

Plans for 2021
We will increase shop numbers and expect to open 100  
new shops, including 40 with franchise partners. We will 
continue to develop our new customer channels to offer 
our services wherever, whenever and however our 
customers want us.

100* 

New shops expected to open in 2021 

Coatbridge

* (net new shops), including 40 with our franchise partners.

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OUR STRATEGY IN ACTION CONTINUED

29

COMPETITIVE 
SUPPLY 
CHAIN

By owning our supply chain, we can 
make great tasting, freshly prepared 
food accessible to everyone.

In a year like no other, our supply chain colleagues did 
us proud, going above and beyond. They worked around  
the clock to maintain shop supplies while adapting to  
the ever-changing shop closures. 

Despite the many challenging circumstances of 2020, 
our team made outstanding progress on our key 
strategic projects.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION CONTINUED

Flood at our bakery and logistics site in Treforest 
Even before the difficulties presented by Covid-19, our 
supply-chain teams began the year responding to the 
challenges of a flood, which led to the temporary closure of 
our bakery and logistics site in Wales. The Treforest Bakery 
sits adjacent to the River Taff, which on the 16 February 
2020 breached its banks, caused by the heavy rain that 
Storm Dennis had brought to South Wales and the West.

The whole site was under three feet of water, including the 
Treforest Distribution Centre warehouse. Our first priority 
was to ensure the safety of our colleagues, followed by the 
wait for the waters to subside so we could assess what 
damage had been caused and begin the clean up.

In true Greggs style, our colleagues rallied together to  
start removing the water that had submerged our bakery 
and warehouse. This was a tremendous effort by the team,  
who also had to make safe all the plant and machinery and 
safely dispose of all food products. Our insurers confirmed 
substantial damage and that it would be months before we 
would be fully operational once again.

To ensure we could distribute products from other 
manufacturing sites to our shops in the West, the team 
devised a plan to get the logistics side of the bakery 
decontaminated, dried and signed off, and ready to 
commence picking and delivery operations. This plan saw 
us fully operational in a matter of weeks. The bakery side  
of the operation took longer to recover, and twelve months 
later we were in a position to once again make bread at 
Treforest.

When the floods struck in 2020, the site’s record investment 
project, designed to ensure capacity and support our 
operations and shop growth for the long-term, had not  
long started. Through the team’s tenacity and dedication, 
this project is now due for completion in April 2021.

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Project Triton 
Designed with sustainability in mind, Project Triton 
highlights our commitment to Net Zero Greggs.
In 2020, we commenced the build of Project Triton, 
our £26 million investment in frozen storage and 
distribution capability at our Balliol logistics site  
in Newcastle upon Tyne. The new facility will have 
capacity for 14,000 pallets, allowing us to consolidate 
the manufacture of frozen products into a single point 
of storage and distribution, leveraging cost and 
efficiency savings, as well as providing much needed 
capacity for growth for many years to come.

We expect Triton to be operational in mid-2021. 
We considered carbon efficiency at every stage  
of the construction process, including:

 – Refrigeration: Water-cooled variable refrigerant 
flow which recovers and reuses heat, designed to 
maintain temperature more efficiently, meaning 
less energy is needed;

 – LED lighting in offices instead of the more 
energy-hungry, incandescent style of bulb;

 – Thermal-efficient dock system: Minimising heat 
gains and maintaining cool chain with minimal  
air leakage;

 – Use of 100 per cent recyclable insulation panels;
 – 12 electric charging points installed in the car park; 

and

 – Full rainwater drainage system, including provision 
for collecting storm rainwater, through the use of 
underground storage tanks. 

A major milestone in our journey to fully centralised 
and automated production
During 2020, we installed the last of our central 
manufacturing platforms at Clydesmill, near Glasgow.  
This centralised approach has allowed for improved 
product quality and consistency and greater efficiencies, 
with resultant volumes greater than original expectations. 

This structure has also been a huge benefit in being able  
to cost-effectively respond to the challenges of Covid-19, 
allowing for greater control of range and capacity to meet 
the changing demands throughout 2020.

Another big year for Project Sunrise – our major 
process and systems investment programme
During 2020, the project team continued the roll out of our 
SAP supply-chain solution, despite the disruption to the 
business caused by the global pandemic.

In September, the team implemented the SAP system onto 
the bread rolls technology platform at our Enfield bakery. 
The team also implemented the manufacturing and 
logistics solution at our first combined site in Manchester 
in October 2020. In addition to this, we integrated our  
SAP system with one of our third-party logistics providers 
(The Ice Company).

We are continuing to make good progress into 2021,  
with the aim of rolling out the system to the remainder  
of the supply chain by the end of the year.

Plans for 2021
2021 will be another big year for our supply chain as we 
complete SAP systems roll out as well as our £26 million 
investment in our new automated frozen storage and 
distribution capability at our Balliol logistics site.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION CONTINUED

31

FIRST CLASS 
SUPPORT 
TEAMS

We’ve invested heavily in leading-edge 
systems. They equip our support 
teams to provide the best service  
to our colleagues and ultimately,  
our customers.

Our investment in modernising our IT systems and core 
business processes certainly paid off in 2020, enabling us 
to continue ‘Business as Usual’ when our colleagues were 
required to work from home.

When it became apparent that remote working was going  
to be the new normal, we were able to rapidly roll out modern 
office working tools, including Office 365, enabling us to work 
together as teams, while working remotely, and we have 
established new tools and ways of working along the way.

Plans for 2021
Digital will be the focus for our teams in 2021 with the 
launch of our new Greggs Rewards App and new website, 
followed by a new CRM platform. Digital system solutions 
will also support the introduction of allergen product 
labelling and new customer service options.

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SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Responding to 
the pandemic: 
supporting 
families in crisis

Supporting our local communities has always 
been at the heart of our approach. During 
2020 we pulled out all the stops to help 
families struggling during the pandemic.

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Food donations
When we had to close our doors at the start of the national 
lockdown in March, we made it our mission to redistribute 
all unsold and surplus food to those most in need. We also 
organised deliveries of sweet treats to the NHS and other 
key workers as a small token of our gratitude.

Annual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page 
SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES CONTINUED

Tackling holiday hunger
The Greggs Foundation team offered £500 to each school 
in our Breakfast Club network to help them provide food 
parcels to send home to their most vulnerable families 
before the schools closed their doors in March. Within a 
matter of days, the team had assessed and processed 
funding for over 450 schools. They continued to work with 
the schools and their families throughout the lockdown, 
helping to support the most vulnerable children. In total over 
£247,000 was awarded to the school network during those 
first eight weeks and a further £250,000 later in the year to 
help schools provide food parcels during the school holidays.

Emergency grants
During the spring lockdown the Greggs Foundation team 
also awarded over 220 emergency grants in small awards 
of £200-£1,000 to help local initiatives where people  
were providing support for their communities – a total  
of £114,000.

Hardship grants
The pandemic stretched many families to their limits.  
The Greggs Foundation team did all they could to support 
struggling families through their hardship grant 
programme, extending access to it via the Breakfast Club 
schools. These grants helped to provide families with 
essential white goods, beds or bedding, supermarket 
vouchers or clothing vouchers.

The Foundation’s reputation for managing hardship grant 
programmes attracted additional funding from other 
partners, including £100,000 from the Barclays 100x100 
Community Relief Fund, £1 million from the government’s 
Community Match Challenge scheme and £40,000 from 
the Community Foundation Tyne & Wear and 
Northumberland. The Greggs Foundation trustees also 
drew on their investment reserves to boost support for 
families and individuals in hardship at this critical time.

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£775K

Total amount the Greggs Foundation team helped to get to 
people in need, in the form of hardship grants during 2020.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2020Annual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTS 
 
 
 
 
 
THE GREGGS PLEDGE

The Greggs Pledge

In February 2021 we launched the Greggs 
Pledge which declared ten things that we 
are doing to help make the world a better 
place by 2025, and beyond.

We have always been committed to doing the right thing, 
but we wanted to be more specific about how we channel 
our efforts and resources into doing good. We reflected on 
what we could do to have the most positive impact on the 
world around us, and have chosen to dedicate our efforts 

to three areas: communities, the planet, and our 
approach to business. We have set ourselves ten 
stretching targets to be achieved by 2025. Each of our 
pledges aligns with at least one of the UN Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs).

Stronger, healthier communities

Safer planet

Better business

We pledge to play our part in improving the nation’s diet 
by helping to tackle obesity, providing free breakfasts 
to schoolchildren, and giving surplus food to those 
most in need.

1. 

 Growing Greggs Breakfast Clubs: By 2025, we will 
support 1,000 school Breakfast Clubs providing some 
70,000 meals each school day.

2.   Putting an end to food waste: By 2025, we will create 

25 per cent less food waste than in 2018 and will 
continue to work towards 100 per cent of surplus food 
going to those most in need.

3.   Supporting our communities: By 2025, we will have  
50 Greggs Outlet shops providing affordable food in 
areas of social deprivation, with a share of profits  
given to local community organisations. 

4.   Helping our customers to make healthier choices:  
By 2025, 30 per cent of the items on our shelves will  
be healthier choices, and we will attract customers 
through education and promotions.

We pledge to become a carbon-neutral,  
zero-waste business. 

We pledge to increase the diversity of our workforce, 
and to use our purchasing power responsibly, with the 
aim of making things better in our supply chain.

5.   Going carbon neutral: By 2025, we will be on our way  
to achieving carbon neutrality by using 100 per cent 
renewable energy across all of our operations.

6.   Building the shops of the future: By 2025, 25 per cent 
of our shops will feature elements from our Eco-Shop 
‘shop of the future’ design.

7.   Using less packaging: By 2025, we will use 25 per cent 

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

8.   Embracing diversity: By 2025, our workforce will 

reflect the communities we serve.

9.   Sourcing sustainably: By 2025, we will have a robust, 
responsible sourcing strategy in place and will report 
annually on progress towards our targets.

10.  Protecting animal welfare: By 2025, we will secure and 
maintain Tier 1 in the BBFAW Animal Welfare standard.

Related Sustainable Development Goals

Related Sustainable Development Goals

Related Sustainable Development Goals

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Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageTHE GREGGS PLEDGE: STRONGER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES

Stronger, healthier 
communities

We pledge to play our part  
in improving the nation’s diet  
by helping to tackle obesity, 
providing free breakfasts to 
schoolchildren, and giving 
surplus food to those  
most in need. 

The British people made Greggs the 
success story it is today, and we have 
always looked for ways to give something 
back to them. Way back in the sixties we 
started with our free pie ‘n‘ peas suppers 
for older residents in Gateshead and, 
today, give one per cent of our pre-tax 
profits to the Greggs Foundation. As a 
food business, we know that hunger and 
obesity are the issues where we are best 
placed to make a difference.

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By the end of 2021, we will have…

680 

Breakfast Clubs

1.  GROWING GREGGS BREAKFAST CLUBS
By 2025, we will support 1,000 school 
Breakfast Clubs providing some 70,000 
meals each school day

For various reasons, many kids sadly don’t get 
the right start to their day. Hungry children find  
it harder to concentrate and learn, ultimately 
impacting their academic attainment. Giving 
children a good start to their day gives them a 
good start in life, so, in 1999, we launched our 
Breakfast Club programme to provide a free 
breakfast to children who need it.

Today there are 600 Breakfast Clubs across  
the UK, serving wholesome, free breakfasts  
to around 39,000 children every school day – 
that’s 7.6 million meals a year. 

We directly fund 307 of these clubs through the 
Greggs Foundation, and have welcomed on board 
104 local and national partners who provide 
grants to cover the costs of the other clubs. 

2.  PUTTING AN END TO FOOD WASTE
By 2025, we will create 25 per cent less food 
waste than in 2018 and will continue to work 
towards 100 per cent of surplus food going  
to those most in need

Our customers love our just-baked savouries and 
the sandwiches we make from bread baked that 
day, but our ‘daily-fresh’ approach presents us 
with a challenge: we have to bake enough so 
no-one’s disappointed, but anything leftover 
becomes waste. 

We’ve worked hard to reduce waste at every 
stage of the process, from our manufacturing 
sites to our retail forecasting and ordering 
system. Any unsold food left at the end of the 
day is offered to charities that can pass it on  
to people who need it in the local community.  
By the end of 2020, we had 1,590 organisations 
regularly collecting unsold food from us.

By 2025, we hope to be providing one million 
meals for people in need every year. However, 
our ultimate vision is for every unsold, 
perishable food item to be saved from the bin.

By the end of 2021, we will have…
reduced the amount of food waste we create  
in our manufacturing operations by

10%

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THE GREGGS PLEDGE: STRONGER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES CONTINUED

3.  SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES
By 2025, we will have 50 Greggs Outlet shops 
providing affordable food in areas of social 
deprivation, with a share of profits given  
to local community organisations 

Millions of people in the UK don’t have enough  
to eat, or are living with the anxiety of not knowing 
where their next meal is coming from.

We currently have 13 Greggs Outlet shops around the UK 
where day-old food products are sold at a big reduction, 
helping people to spend less on food. We want to 
increase the number of Outlet shops to enable more 
people in the UK’s more deprived areas to get our 
products at a big reduction.

By 2025, we intend to increase the number of Outlet 
shops to 50.

We donate a share of our profits from these shops  
to the Greggs Foundation which passes it on to local 
community groups that are working to address food 
poverty and associated problems.

By the end of 2021, we will have…

30 

Greggs Outlet shops

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4.  HELPING OUR CUSTOMERS TO MAKE 
HEALTHIER CHOICES
By 2025, 30 per cent of the items on our 
shelves will be healthier choices and we will 
attract customers through education and 
promotions

Our customers lead increasingly busy lives, 
meaning that convenience is often one of the most 
important factors influencing their food choices. 
We want to be the nation’s favourite destination for 
food-on-the-go but aim to ensure that ‘convenient’ 
goes hand-in-hand with ‘healthy’.

Our Balanced Choice range is made up of 
products with good nutritional content and each 
contain fewer than 400 calories. We provide 
calorie and nutritional information for all of our 
products either on shelf, or through our website 
and mobile app.

We have reformulated many of our traditional 
bakery products to reduce the amount of sugar, 
salt, fat and calories they contain, whilst 
remaining true to their great-tasting heritage. 
We have also developed vegan versions of our 
best sellers, helping people to lower their meat 
consumption.

By the end of 2021, 

25% 

of the items on our shelves will be  
healthier choices.

Annual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page 
THE GREGGS PLEDGE: SAFER PLANET

Safer planet

5.  GOING CARBON NEUTRAL
By 2025, we will be on our way to achieving 
carbon neutrality by using 100 per cent 
renewable energy across all of our 
operations

Today, 96 per cent of the electricity we use  
is from renewable sources, and is therefore 
carbon neutral. By 2025, we want to be using  
100 per cent renewable electricity.

We are proud signatories of the British Retail 
Consortium’s ‘Climate Action Roadmap’ meaning 
that we have committed to be Net Zero by  
2040 – ten years ahead of the current UK 
Government plan.

During 2021, we will complete the mapping of  
our whole carbon footprint, enabling us to set 
science-based targets and plot our pathway  
to Net Zero.  

READ MORE ABOUT OUR COMMITMENT TO  
NET ZERO GREGGS ON PAGE 22. 

By the end of 2021, we will have…
completed Carbon Footprint modelling 
(Scope 3).

6.  BUILDING THE SHOPS OF THE FUTURE 
By 2025, 25 per cent of our shops will feature 
elements from our Eco-Shop, ‘shop of  
the future’ design

We’re always on the lookout for new, green 
technologies that might work for Greggs.  
We’ve created a template for a shop that 
incorporates sustainable thinking from the 
design stage. The template considers how we 
build our shops, and what we make them out of, 
as well as the technology and fittings that we 
install and run inside them. It even considers 
how we decommission the shop and recycle 
components from it. This ‘shop of the future’ 
template is helping us to push the boundaries of 
what is possible. We call it our Eco-Shop design. 

By 2025, we want at least a quarter of our shops 
to feature elements from the Eco-Shop design.

By the end of 2021, we will have…
created the initial design and operational 
requirements for our Eco-Shop.

We pledge to become a carbon neutral,  
zero waste business. 

The planet is facing a climate emergency  
and we acknowledge our responsibility  
to do everything we can to reduce our 
environmental impact. 

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THE GREGGS PLEDGE: SAFER PLANET CONTINUED

7.  USING LESS PACKAGING 
By 2025, we will use 25 per cent  
less packaging, by weight, than in 2019 and 
any remaining packaging will be made from 
material that is widely recycled

Product packaging is obviously a necessity. We 
use it to keep things fresh and uncontaminated 
in our supply chain, and our customers need it  
to carry their purchases away from our shops. 
However, we want to make sure we are not using 
more than we need to.

We started with plastic and, in 2019, cut  
350 tonnes of single-use plastics from our 
operations. By 2025, we want to eliminate  
all unnecessary single-use plastic from our 
shops and manufacturing sites. 

After plastic, our next biggest focus area is 
coffee cups. We are working with our industry 
peers to develop sector-wide improvements  
in the way we manage coffee cup usage  
and disposal.

By the end of 2021, we will have…
reviewed all packaging against ‘On Pack 
Recycling Label’ (OPRL) criteria.

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THE GREGGS PLEDGE: BETTER BUSINESS

Better business

We pledge to increase the 
diversity of our workforce and 
to use our purchasing power 
responsibly, with the aim of 
making things better in our 
supply chain.

By being a successful business, Greggs 
makes a meaningful contribution to the 
economy each year through providing jobs 
and paying tax. We have always strived  
to be a good corporate citizen and aim to 
treat everyone – our colleagues, suppliers, 
partners and customers – with fairness, 
consideration and respect. 

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8.  EMBRACING DIVERSITY
By 2025, our workforce will reflect  
the communities we serve

We’re proud of our reputation as a good 
employer, but we’re not complacent and 
recognise that there is more that we can do, 
particularly in the area of diversity. We want 
everyone to feel welcomed at Greggs and our 
colleagues to feel able to be themselves at work, 
whatever their background, preferences, or 
views. We also want to make sure there are no 
barriers that might stop anyone from building  
a successful career with us.

We signed up to the National Equality Standard 
in 2017 and renewed our commitment in 2020. 

We are working hard to improve the data we hold 
for our colleagues in relation to their gender, 
ethnic origin, sexual orientation and whether  
or not they have a disability. Knowing this will 
help us to develop plans to ensure we grow as  
a diverse company, representative of the 
communities we serve. 

By the end of 2021, we will have…
completed the assessment process  
for the National Equality Standard.

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THE GREGGS PLEDGE: BETTER BUSINESS CONTINUED

9.  SOURCING SUSTAINABLY
By 2025, we will have a robust, responsible 
sourcing strategy in place and will report 
annually on progress towards our targets

When it comes to sourcing the ingredients that 
we need to make our products, or the goods and 
services that enable us to run our business, 
‘sourcing sustainably’ means taking care that 
they are produced and delivered responsibly.

We treat our suppliers fairly and respect the 
human rights of workers in our supply chain. We 
are big supporters of British Business and many 
of our suppliers are local, but we also choose to 
source Fairtrade products which empowers 
farmers and workers in the developing world  
to improve their living standards. 

We don’t want to buy products that cause 
deforestation and are careful in how we procure 
paper products and anything containing palm oil.

By the end of 2021, we will have…
ensured all direct purchases of soy are verified 
as ‘Identity Preserved’ and have completed a 
review of all other uses of soy in our ingredients.

40

10.  PROTECTING ANIMAL WELFARE
By 2025, we will secure and maintain Tier 1 in the 
BBFAW Animal Welfare standard

Animal welfare is a priority for Greggs. Our whole shell eggs 
and liquid eggs are from free-range hens and we expect  
all livestock and seafood species reared or caught and 
supplied to us to have been well-treated. Our suppliers 
must meet or exceed farm-animal welfare regulations. 
We’ve set out these expectations in the Greggs Farm 
Animal Welfare Standards, a clear set of rules that we 
developed with consideration of the Farm Animal Welfare 
Committee’s ‘Five Freedoms’.

We participate in the annual Business Benchmark on Farm 
Animal Welfare (BBFAW) and, by 2025, intend to secure and 
then maintain Tier 1 rating. To do this, we are stepping up 
our efforts in the areas of management commitment, 
policy, governance and performance monitoring.

By the end of 2021, we will have…
…developed and implemented  
our roadmap to achieve 

TIER 1 
RATING

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Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial Review

Financially, 2020 was a year of two very 
different halves. The period to June 
included an extensive lockdown period, 
where our shops were closed and we relied 
on financial support from a number of 
government-backed schemes. In the 
second half of the year we took action to 
reduce this reliance and saw a progressive 
strengthening of business performance, 
albeit materially impacted by Covid-19 
restrictions, supported by the development 
of new digital channels. Whilst the outlook 
remains challenging, we have a strong 
balance sheet that is supporting our growth 
ambitions whilst protecting the interests of 
all of Greggs’ stakeholders.

Revenue
Operating (loss) / profit
Finance expense

(Loss) / profit before taxation
Income tax

(Loss) / profit after taxation

2020 
£m

811.3
(7.0)
(6.7)

(13.7)
0.7

(13.0)

2019
£m

1,167.9
114.8 
(6.5)

108.3 
(21.3)

87.0

Actions to ensure liquidity
In March 2020 Greggs’ shops were closed in response to 
the first national lockdown and it was clear that access to 
additional liquidity would be required in order to support 
the business through a significant period of closure. 
Actions were taken to preserve cash, including the 
furloughing of most employees with support from the 
Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), 
cancellation of the previously-declared final dividend for 
2019 and halting capital projects.

In April 2020 the Company established its eligibility to draw 
on the Bank of England’s Coronavirus Corporate Financing 
Facility (CCFF) and issued £150 million of commercial 
paper to ensure that it maintained a strong financial 
position in the face of what was then an uncertain period 
of closure. In December 2020 the Company put in place a 
£100 million revolving credit facility with a syndicate of 
commercial banks. This gave us confidence to redeem the 
CCFF commercial paper and, along with a net cash balance 
at the end of the year, has put us in a strong financial 
position going into 2021.

Sales
Total Group sales for the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021 
were £811.3 million (2019: £1,167.9 million). The reduction  
in sales year-on-year reflects the closure of the Greggs 
shop estate for most of the second quarter of 2020 due  
to the national lockdown in response to the coronavirus 
pandemic. Sales in the second half of the year were also 

significantly lower than normal as a result of social 
distancing measures and further restrictions that limited 
the number of customers out of home.

Reporting ‘like-for-like’ sales (sales in company-managed 
shops with more than one calendar year’s trading history) 
is a key alternative performance measure for Greggs as it 
shows underlying estate sales performance excluding the 
impact of new shop openings and of closures. The table 
below shows the monthly like-for-like sales level in the 
second half of 2020 as a proportion of that in the same 
period of 2019:

Jul*

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

64.9% 68.0% 76.1% 80.1% 76.7% 85.7%

Company-
managed 
like-for-like sales 
as percentage of 
2019 level

* 

The full estate reopened on 2 July

Looking forward to 2021 there will be periods where the 
Greggs estate was closed in the comparative period of 
2020. In order to show a consistent measure of sales 
recovery versus pre-Covid-19 levels we intend to report  
the level of like-for-like sales achieved in that period of 
2021 versus the 2019 level.

An important feature of the improving trend in like-for-like 
sales from company-managed shops has been the 
contribution of delivery services, which were rolled out 

41

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageFINANCIAL REVIEW CONTINUED

nationally across the second half of 2020. In the fourth 
quarter of the year delivery represented 5.5 per cent of 
company-managed shop sales, supplied by 600 of our 
shops that now provide delivery services to catchments 
served by Just Eat. We expect this to increase to around 
800 shops in 2021. Delivery channel transactions typically 
have a much higher average transaction value (ATV) than 
those from walk-in customers. Whilst the percentage 
margin from a delivery transaction is slightly lower than 
the walk-in equivalent there is a benefit from the 
incremental delivery transactions and their higher ATV.

Loss for the year
The loss before tax in 2020 was £13.7 million 
(2019: £108.3 million profit), with a loss of £65.2 million in 
the first half followed by a £51.5 million profit in the second 
half of the year. The loss for the year included a £0.5 million 
profit from property disposals (2019: £0.7 million) and a 
£0.8 million charge in respect of exceptional items  
(2019: £5.9 million charge).

The exceptional charge of £0.8 million relates to 
redundancy costs and costs arising from transfer of 
operations associated with our multi-year programme of 
investment in our supply chain and has been separately 
identified in the interests of consistency with the treatment 
adopted in previous years. The programme is now largely 
complete and it is unlikely that any remaining costs will be 
sufficiently material to be separately classified.

The result for 2020 reflects a number of factors that have 
not been classified as exceptional but are described below 
because of their materiality:

 – The three-month closure of the Company’s shop estate 
in the first half of the year resulted in stocks of some 
food and drink items being unusable within the 
business. These were donated to good causes wherever 

42

possible but the total charge for write-offs and stock 
provisions was £9.0 million;

 – Asset impairment charges and onerous shop operating 

costs have been recognised as a result of the 
challenging trading environment. The acceleration of 
the closure of 38 shops crystallised impairment charges 
amounting to £5.4 million and we have provided for  
£2.5 million in onerous costs directly linked to these 
leases, for example rates, service charges and 
insurance. A further £8.6 million charge was made for the 
impairment of 87 shops which continue to trade but are 
unlikely to recover the full carrying value of their assets;
 – Incremental costs of £9.3 million were incurred to put  
in place additional protective measures across the 
business, including a proactive virus-testing 
programme at our manufacturing and logistics sites. 
Heading into 2021 we are incurring monthly costs of 
around £1 million in respect of additional cleaning, 
protective workwear and testing;

 – The Company relied on support for employment from 
the CJRS; this totalled £87 million in 2020. By the end  
of the year the rate of CJRS support had reduced to 
c.£200k per week and related to the protection of 
employment for team members who were shielding  
or unable to work because of lockdown restrictions;
 – In the fourth quarter of the year the Company entered 
into a collective consultation with union and employee 
representatives with the aim of reducing employment 
costs to reflect lower-than-normal business activity 
levels. The consultation process minimised the  
number of job losses but, unfortunately, still resulted  
in 820 redundancies. The one-off cost of these 
redundancies was £10.2 million and has lowered 
ongoing annual employment costs by £14.4 million; and
 – A business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure 
businesses provided relief totalling £18.8 million over the 
period April to December 2020. The sector-wide support 
is currently due to continue until June 2021.

Overall wage cost inflation was 3.5 per cent in 2020. A  
pay increase for staff was implemented but the planned 
increase for managers was cancelled and, for five months 
of the year, all directors took a voluntary reduction in 
salaries and fees in order to protect the cash position  
of the business. Looking forward the impact of National 
Living Wage increases will be less significant than has 
been the case in recent years and, consequently, overall 
wage and salary inflation is expected to be around  
2.3 per cent in 2021.

The rate of food, packaging and energy cost inflation 
eased in the second half of 2020 as the demand for 
commodities weakened. In the year ahead we expect 
overall cost inflation in these areas to be in the range of 
one to two per cent.

Greggs has continued to pay its shop rents through the 
pandemic but we have moved the basis of payment to 
‘monthly in advance’. This change in the basis of payment 
has not had a material impact on the valuation of lease 
liabilities. We have been in discussions with the landlords 
of our shops to negotiate rent reductions; these 
discussions are continuing and in a weak rental market we 
expect to continue to receive better terms from landlords 
in return for the relative security that comes with Greggs’ 
strong covenant.

Financing charges
The net financing expense of £6.7 million in the year  
(2019: £6.5 million) comprised £6.5 million in respect of the 
IFRS 16 interest charge on lease liabilities and £0.8 million 
interest expense on borrowings under the Company’s 
financing facilities. This was offset by interest received and 
foreign exchange gains and losses totalling £0.6 million.

In the year ahead the interest expense on borrowings will 
reflect the arrangement and commitment fees for the 

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageFINANCIAL REVIEW CONTINUED

Company’s revolving credit facility. This is expected  
to amount to a £1.0 million charge if the facility  
remains undrawn.

Taxation
The Company has a simple corporate structure, carries out 
its business entirely in the UK and all taxes are paid there. 
We aim to act with integrity and transparency in respect  
of our taxation obligations.

The Group’s overall effective tax rate on losses in 2020  
was 5.2 per cent (2019: 19.7 per cent rate on profit). The 
effective rate on losses in the year reflects the impact of  
a largely fixed level of disallowed expenses for taxation 
purposes relative to the level of loss for the year together 
with the revaluation of deferred tax balances.

The introduction of super-deduction capital allowances in 
the recent UK Budget and the revaluation of deferred tax will 
affect the Group’s effective rate of taxation over the next 
two years. We expect the effective rate for 2021 to be around 
19.0 per cent and the effective rate for 2022 to be around  
17.0 per cent. Going forward the effective rate is expected  
to be around 1.5 per cent above the headline corporation tax 
rate; this is principally because of disallowed expenditure 
such as depreciation on non-tax-deductible qualifying 
properties and costs of acquisition of new shops.

Earnings per share and dividend
The diluted loss per share was 11.8 pence (2019: 85.0 pence 
earnings per share).

Faced with the need to preserve cash during the initial 
period of lockdown in quarter two 2020 the Board 
cancelled payment of the previously-declared final 
dividend for 2019. No interim dividend was declared or paid 
in 2020 and the Board is not recommending a final dividend 
in respect of the year.

As trading conditions and profitability improve the Board 
expects to recommence a dividend distribution. In order  
to do so the Company must first establish a sufficiently 
strong net cash position to protect forward liquidity in the 
case of further interruptions to trading. It is anticipated 
that a progressive dividend policy will again be adopted 
once trading conditions and business performance  
have stabilised.

Balance sheet
Capital expenditure
We invested a total of £58.7 million (2019: £86.0 million) in 
capital expenditure during 2020. The year started with an 
ambitious programme of investment activity designed to 
grow our shop numbers and create supply chain capacity 
for future expansion. In quarter two, in order to protect 
liquidity, we stopped almost all capital expenditure with 
the exception of the work on our new, automated cold 
store at Balliol Park in Newcastle upon Tyne.

As our shops reopened in the middle of 2020 and we 
became more confident of sustainable trading levels  
we selectively recommenced capital works. Capital 
expenditure to support new shop openings was focused  
on pipeline opportunities in locations which customers 
typically access by car, these having proved the most 
resilient under prevailing trading conditions.

Depreciation and amortisation on property, plant and 
equipment and intangibles in the year was £60.8 million 
(2019: £59.9 million). A further £51.9 million (2019: £50.8 
million) of depreciation was charged in respect of right-of-
use assets as a result of capitalised leases.

Our plans for 2021 include capital expenditure of around 
£70 million. This will include completion of the Balliol Park 
automated cold store, increases to manufacturing 
capacity for savoury products and a return to the previous 

rate of expansion of our shop estate. In this respect we will 
be investing in around 100 new company-managed shops 
alongside further openings with franchise partners.

Having invested substantially in the shop estate in recent 
years we intend to refurbish relatively few shops in 2021 
but will continue trials of formats designed to support 
future plans. The requirement for capital expenditure to 
refurbish our existing shops will increase in the coming 
years and we will start to address supply chain capacity to 
meet the growth opportunities ahead. On current plans we 
expect this to require capital expenditure of c.£90 million 
in 2022 followed by c.£100 million in 2023.

Management of return on capital
We manage return on capital against predetermined 
targets and monitor performance through our Investment 
Board, a management committee where all capital 
expenditure is subject to rigorous appraisal before and 
after it is made. For investments in new shops we target an 
average cash return on invested capital of 25 per cent, with 
a hurdle rate of 22.5 per cent, over an average investment 
cycle of eight years. Other investments are appraised 
using discounted cash flow analysis. With trading 
conditions currently subdued we have not changed our 
investment criteria but are looking beyond current trading 
conditions when evaluating which investments will make 
strong returns on capital in the medium term.

Working capital
Group net current liabilities were £45.3 million at the end of 
2020 (2019: £66.4 million), the overall reduction primarily 
reflecting lower-than-normal levels of trading and tax 
liabilities along with a lower cash balance. Trade and other 
receivables have increased as a result of increased growth 
in the B2B (wholesale/franchise) channel and provisions 
for performance-related remuneration are much reduced.

43

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageThe Company’s new revolving credit facility allows it to 
draw up to £100 million in committed funds, subject to it 
retaining a minimum liquidity of £30 million (i.e. maximum 
net borrowings are £70 million). This facility is designed to 
provide protection to the business should it experience 
further periods of lockdown in the year ahead.

With a net cash position and committed facilities in place 
the Company is in a position to look beyond short-term 
trading uncertainties and begin investing in the 
opportunities that present themselves for profitable 
growth in the years ahead.

Richard Hutton
Finance Director
16 March 2021

FINANCIAL REVIEW CONTINUED

Pension scheme liability
The net liability shown on the balance sheet for the 
Company’s closed defined benefit pension scheme 
increased to £11.9 million (2019: £0.6 million), mainly as  
a result of the reduction in the discount rate applied to 
future liabilities. The scheme underwent a full actuarial 
revaluation in 2020, the results of which are expected to 
show a deficit in funding. The Company is working with the 
scheme’s trustee to ensure that any funding requirements 
are met over the medium term.

Cash flow
In a year when there was so much pressure on cash 
resources it was a great advantage to have started 2020 
with a strong cash balance. Following record financial 
results in 2019 the opening position in 2020 was a net  
cash balance of £91.3 million. The net cash inflow from 
operating activities after lease payments in 2020 was 
£1.5 million (2019: £169.5 million). After capital expenditure 
and other smaller investing and financing activities the net 
outflow for the year was £54.5 million (2019: net inflow of 
£3.1 million), resulting in an end-of-year net cash balance 
of £36.8 million.

The events of 2020 have demonstrated the importance  
of ensuring good liquidity. Greggs has consistently 
maintained a net cash position in order to be able to  
meet its obligations through a downturn or temporary 
interruption to its ability to trade. The negative working 
capital position that is generated by the Company’s 
operations crystalises quickly in the absence of cash 
receipts from trading. At the end of 2020 we estimate  
that this working capital outflow would be in the order of 
£35 million in a situation where Greggs was not able to 
trade its shops. In addition to this the weekly ‘cash burn’, 
assuming continued government support for job retention 
and relief from business rates, would be around £4 million 
per week.

44

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageRISK MANAGEMENT

The Board has ultimate
responsibility for 
ensuring that risks are
managed appropriately

Our risk management methodology is well-embedded in  
the business, and gives a holistic view of our risk exposure. 
The effective taking and management of risks is essential  
to enable us to meet our business objectives. 

The various roles of those involved in the risk process are summarised in the diagram below: 

Body

Role

Key activities

Main  
Board

Audit  
Committee

Direction  
& oversight

Operating  
Board

Risk  
Committee

Identify, assess  
& monitor risk

Ongoing review of risk process; 
consideration of whistleblowing 
reports; assessment of principal 
risks & uncertainties

Consideration of new & emerging 
risks highlighted by the business; 
review of key strategic risks  
& escalating as necessary

Business Assurance  
function

Assurance on 
effectiveness of  
risk management  
& controls

Management of risk register; 
arranging insurance cover  
for risks where appropriate

The Board has ultimate responsibility for our risk management approach, and sets the parameters 
within which risk can be accepted. Elements of this responsibility are delegated to the Audit 
Committee, including reviewing the effectiveness of the overall risk and assurance approach.

Proactive risk management is the responsibility of the Risk Committee, a management committee 
comprising representation from across the business which meets at least three times each year.  
It ensures that mitigation plans are put in place to manage risks appropriately. Each functional  
area within the business is responsible for the ongoing operational management of existing and 
emerging risks.

45

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageRISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED

Viability statement
The events of 2020 presented a practical test of the 
contingency plans and assumptions that we have 
previously presented in our viability testing. The pandemic 
impact was more significant than anything foreseen by our 
previous assessment of principal risks, but the planned 
approach to cash preservation worked as planned, 
supported by government assistance. The crisis also 
tested the Company’s capacity for borrowing, first through 
successful admission to the Bank of England’s CCFF 
scheme and then via the establishment of a commercial 
revolving credit facility. Greggs’ resilience was tested 
thoroughly in 2020 and the Directors have built this 
learning into the viability assessment described below.

The Directors have assessed the Company’s prospects and 
viability taking into account the ongoing significant 
uncertainties around the pace at which activity levels will 
recover from the pandemic, particularly in respect of the 
relaxation of social distancing measures. The assessment 
has taken the Company’s current position and plans and 
tested its viability under various scenarios that reflect the 
occurrence of the principal risks with which it is faced. 
These include threats to its operations and to the supply  
of products, both of which have been experienced to  
some extent over the past year.

In carrying out its assessment the Board has reviewed the 
three-year operational and financial plans to 2023. This is 
the period over which the Board reviews management’s 
business planning and sets performance targets, and 
therefore the Board believes that this is the most 
appropriate timeframe over which to make the viability 
assessment.

The Directors have carried out a robust assessment of the 
principal risks facing the Company, including those that 
would threaten its business model, future performance, 

46

solvency or liquidity. The impact of the pandemic has  
been reflected in the risk that the entire business could  
be temporarily prevented from trading and be faced with 
prolonged periods of subdued demand, with consequent 
pressures on liquidity.

The principal risks to which the Company is exposed 
ultimately affect the ability of its shops to trade successfully, 
either due to reduced demand or because of operational 
interruptions, including those to its internal supply chain.  
A significant loss of sales is particularly damaging given the 
Company’s vertical integration in that the cost of the internal 
supply chain cannot be reduced quickly.

In order to stress-test the Company’s financial resilience 
scenarios were created to simulate the impact arising 
from the occurrence of the following principal risks:

1.  Pandemic threat – the risk that the Company is forced 
to close its shops to walk-in customers for three 
months each year as a result of lockdown rules, and 
experiences subdued levels of walk-in trade for the 
rest of each year. Delivery channel sales are assumed 
to continue through the lockdown months, as are ‘bake 
at home’ sales through the Company’s wholesale 
relationship with Iceland Foods. This forward scenario 
assumes that government support would continue to 
be available for the support of employment and that 
relief from business rates would be available during  
the periods of forced closure.

2.  A brand-damaging food scare resulting in a significant 
one-year sales reduction followed by gradual recovery 
of confidence. In making assumptions the Directors 
considered real examples of companies in the food 
sector that had experienced such issues.
3.  Temporary loss of production capacity for the 

Company’s iconic pastry savoury products and the 
consequences for liquidity as capacity is restored.

In each case the Directors reviewed the mitigating actions 
that would be necessary to protect the Company’s liquidity. 

These included:

 – The temporary suspension of dividend payments in 

order to preserve cash for operational use;

 – Restriction of capital expenditure whilst protecting 

essential infrastructure maintenance and 
commitments to strategic investments;

 – Access to government support;
 – Drawing on existing committed financing facilities; and
 – Calling on the Company’s insurance arrangements  

on the occurrence of an insured risk.

The scenarios tested were capable of being managed 
within the Company’s existing, committed financing 
facilities. The pandemic scenario presents by far the 
greatest financial stress to the business. With the 
Company’s shops closed to walk-in customers the net cash 
outflow, after government support, would be expected to 
be c.£4 million per week, in addition to which would be a 
working capital outflow of c.£35 million to settle existing 
net obligations to creditors.

The Company does not carry committed facilities to the level 
that could, theoretically, be required in a situation where 
multiple principal risk scenarios occurred concurrently. In 
such circumstances the Directors believe that the borrowing 
capacity of the Company would be sufficient to allow it 
access to temporary additional facilities.

Based on the results of the analysis, the Directors have a 
reasonable expectation that the Company will be able to 
continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due 
over the three-year period of their detailed assessment.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageRISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED

Emerging risks
New and emerging risks facing the business are discussed 
at each Risk Committee meeting, and are escalated to the 
Board as appropriate, where the potential impact is 
considered to be significant. Discussions are informed by 
matters raised across the business, providing a route for 
management to escalate any concerns. The Board is also 
asked to identify and consider new and emerging risks,  
and seeks assurance that such risks are being properly 
managed. In considering the new and emerging risk 
landscape, we have benchmarked our view against other 
organisations, to inform our discussions and ensure that 
we have considered all relevant areas. Covid-19 has 
impacted on a number of our principal risks during the 
year. This is reflected in our assessment of the movement 
in risk set out below.

Principal risks and uncertainties
The Directors have carried out a robust assessment of the 
emerging and principal risks facing the Company, and set 
out below are those which are considered to present the 
most significant threat to the business’ future development 
or performance. The position described below is a 
summary of the status at the date of the annual report.

Where appropriate, the impact of these risks occurring  
has been considered when devising the scenarios tested 
as part of the financial viability statement, though clearly 
the ongoing pandemic is the most significant factor.

Additional risks and uncertainties, not presently known to 
management or deemed less material currently, may also

have an adverse effect on the business. Further, the 
exposure to each risk will evolve as we take mitigating 
actions, or as new risks emerge. 

In disclosing our risk exposures, we have refocused one  
of our technology risks, identified previously, to consider 
the impact of increased reliance on systems, rather than 
system capacity.

The principal risks are grouped according to their 
overriding theme, and are described along with key 
mitigations, the strategic pillars to which they are linked, 
and any movement in net risk during the year. 

 1   Great tasting, freshly prepared food 
 3   Competitive supply chain 

 4   First class support teams

 2   Best customer experience

What is the risk?

BUSINESS 
TRANSFORMATION

SUPPLY CHAIN  
DISRUPTION

Risk theme

Movement

MANAGEMENT  
OF THIRD PARTY 
RELATIONSHIPS

ABILITY TO  
ATTRACT/RETAIN/
MOTIVATE PEOPLE

ORGANISATIONAL CAPACITY

Strategic pillars

 2  

 3  

 4

 1  

 2  

 3  

 4

 1  

 2  

 3  

 4

 2  

 3  

 4

Key developments

Our current business change programme 
continues.

Expected timelines or savings may not be 
met, and there may be disruption to our 
customers.

Our more centralised production  
and larger distribution centres of 
excellence create a greater reliance  
on technology. As a result, the impact of 
any operational failure on our shops and 
customers increases.

Key mitigations

47

Our planned timetable has changed  
to reflect the current environment,  
with some elements of the programme 
accelerated, and others postponed.  
We now have an agreed model which can 
readily be implemented at our remaining 
supply sites.

We have processes in place to manage 
disruption at our sites, and these have 
been tested during the ongoing pandemic. 
Our capability to handle such situations 
has improved, and we have learned to cope 
more effectively with disruption. The 
availability of frozen stock also aids our 
response.

As our reliance on third parties for 
services, ingredients or business support 
increases, we become more exposed to 
their business interruption risks. This 
could impact on our ability to produce, 
distribute or sell our products. There is 
also an increasing risk to product integrity, 
particularly in relation to food fraud.

All third parties are vetted prior to 
engagement, and key supplier 
relationships are managed by our central 
procurement team. The impact of the UK 
leaving the EU has increased this risk due 
to variability in border controls.

Market forces may result in a shortage of 
available workforce, particularly within our 
shops and specialist IT roles. The former 
may be compounded by the relative 
complexity of our shop operations, 
compared with other retailers.

We have developed new, centralised 
recruitment processes, making 
application easier for potential 
colleagues. We offer attractive 
remuneration and benefit packages  
to reward our teams and encourage 
retention. The current economic 
environment also reduces this risk.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageRISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED

 1   Great tasting, freshly prepared food 
 3   Competitive supply chain 

 4   First class support teams

 2   Best customer experience

What is  
the risk?

Risk theme

Movement

DAMAGE TO 
REPUTATION

CYBER & DATA 
SECURITY

RELIANCE  
ON SYSTEMS

ALLERGENS

BRAND PERCEPTION

TECHNOLOGY

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Strategic pillars

 1  

 3

 2  

 3  

 4

 2  

 3  

 4

 1  

 2  

 3  

 4

Key  
developments

Key  
mitigations

As our profile increases, so does the 
impact of any reputational damage due to 
a loss of customer trust. This could result 
from the sale of unsafe food, or products 
not meeting customer requirements, for 
example.

Engaging with a wider range of partners 
could result in a loss of control over our 
brand.

Procedures are in place throughout our 
supply sites and shops to ensure that food 
safety is maintained. Compliance is 
monitored both internally and by 
regulators.

Routine checks are carried out to confirm 
the integrity of our products and 
ingredients.

We have robust crisis management 
procedures in place, and utilise third party 
support where appropriate.

All the processes described above are 
equally applicable to our franchise 
partners.

Our data and systems are exposed  
to external threats such as hackers or 
viruses, as are those of all businesses. 
These could result in data breaches, or 
disruption to our operation. The threat 
landscape is constantly evolving. An 
increase in homeworking due to the 
pandemic increases this risk.

We actively monitor our networks and 
systems, including conducting regular 
penetration testing. Action is taken to 
protect against emerging threats.

Our approach to information security 
is closely monitored by the Board.

Greater system integration and 
interconnectivity results in an increased 
impact in the event of any process failure 
or technology outage.

Network bandwidth could prove 
inadequate as we move to a cloud-based IT 
model.

We work closely with partners to provide 
additional capacity and technical 
expertise when required. Contingency 
plans continue to evolve in response  
to system and process changes.

Increased focus on allergens and 
associated legislation brings added 
complexity to our operations.

We continue to progress towards a full 
allergen labelling solution as required by 
legislation, developing new processes and 
controls to ensure compliance. Extensive 
training is planned, to ensure that our 
teams are familiar with the complex new 
working methods. 

Allergen complaints are fully investigated 
and appropriate action taken to address 
the root cause.

48

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageRISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED

 1   Great tasting, freshly prepared food 
 3   Competitive supply chain 

 4   First class support teams

 2   Best customer experience

What is  
the risk?

Risk theme

Movement

OTHER 
LEGISLATION AND 
TAXATION

SIGNIFICANT 
FINES  
FOR NON-
COMPLIANCE 
WITH 
LEGISLATION

IMPACT OF  
BREXIT

IMPACT OF  
PANDEMIC

CLIMATE  
CHANGE

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

EXTERNAL FACTORS

EXTERNAL FACTORS

N/A

Strategic pillars

 1  

 2  

 3  

 4

 1  

 2  

 1  

 2  

 3  

 4

 1  

 2  

 3  

 4

 1  

 2  

 3  

 4

Key 
developments

Key  
mitigations

New legislation may necessitate 
additional processes, or changes 
to our operations, such as 
restricting our marketing 
opportunities.

Continued growing concern over 
the environment and health may 
drive the introduction of 
additional levies and taxes, or  
new government requirements.

We contribute to the development 
of new regulations via 
engagement with industry 
bodies.

When new requirements are 
introduced, we take timely action 
to ensure we are compliant. 

Our ‘Greggs Pledge’ demonstrates 
our commitment to operating 
ethically.

Large financial penalties could  
be imposed on the business for 
breaches of legislation relating  
to many aspects of our operation. 
This risk is higher in the current 
situation, with broader regulatory 
requirements and an uncertain 
political and legislative 
environment.

The rate of change of legislation, 
and the complexity of new 
regulations further adds to the 
risk.

We have a system of due diligence 
controls and monitors in place 
across the business, to ensure 
that we continue to comply with 
requirements. Our audit 
processes confirm correct 
procedures are being followed.

We have Primary Authority 
arrangements in place for Food 
Safety, Health and Safety, and 
Fire Safety, and have liaised 
closely regarding our approach  
to Covid-19.

Following the UK’s exit from the 
EU, there remains uncertainty as 
to the regulatory requirements, 
with an associated future burden 
on the business. There is the 
potential for disruption at 
borders.

Changes in climate could impact 
on our business, both from a 
physical perspective and as a 
result of the transition to carbon 
neutrality.

The ongoing pandemic could  
have an adverse impact on our 
operations and the demand for 
our products. It is likely that 
working patterns and shopping 
habits will have changed, and 
there is the potential for a general 
economic downturn. The 
availability of liquidity may be 
restricted.

Actions were taken to ensure that 
all appropriate measures were in 
place. Contingency plans will be 
implemented should there be any 
disruption to our operations. 

We have recently published our 
“Greggs Pledge”, which sets out 
our commitment to sustainability. 
The ten objectives will underpin 
our decision making and link 
closely to our strategy.

We are taking action across the 
business to increase our climate 
resilience and improve our 
sustainability.

We continue to progress  
with the development of our 
business model, to provide our 
products to new customers via 
new routes, including a rapid 
rollout of our delivery  
partnership with Just Eat. Our 
varied shop locations reduce our 
exposure to loss of high street 
footfall. We have demonstrated 
our ability to continue trading 
through all levels of restrictions.

We have secured access to 
funding, should it be required.

49

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageRISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED

Covid-19

The impact of Covid-19 on the business is 
referenced throughout this report, but set 
out below is a summary of actions taken  
to mitigate the risks facing the business.

Our priority throughout has been the safety, health  
and well-being of our customers and colleagues. 

 – Our crisis management protocols were instigated, with 
daily meetings of a cross-functional team taking place. 
Our full Operating Board has met at least twice weekly 
throughout the period;

 – Government guidelines have been followed as a 

minimum at every stage of the pandemic;

 – Although not prevented from trading during the first 

lockdown in March 2020, all shops and all but one of our 
manufacturing sites were closed while we introduced 
policies and procedures so that our operations could be 
carried out in a Covid-secure manner, supporting the 
safety of our customers and our teams. In the one site 
that remained in operation supplying Iceland Foods, we 
rapidly introduced new safe ways of working to include 
social distancing and face shields;

 – Appropriate measures were taken to secure  

closed sites;

 – Where possible, our support teams started to work 
from home and have continued to do so throughout  
the pandemic; we have moved to virtual meetings  
as far as possible;

50

 – Engagement with our suppliers helped to ensure 
continuity of supply once we were in a position  
to recommence production;

 – Reopening was undertaken on a phased basis,  
to ensure that we were able to do so safely;

 – We have engaged with key external stakeholders 

throughout the crisis, including regulatory bodies, 
advisors and government agencies;

 – Our teams have been supported with regular 
communication, including updates from our  
Chief Executive throughout the period; 

 – Prompt action was taken to reduce costs including 

furloughing colleagues and accessing the Coronavirus 
Job Retention Scheme and other government 
initiatives, stopping any discretionary spend, and 
cancelling the 2019 final dividend. We also enhanced  
our regular financial controls;

 – We obtained access to funding through the Covid 

Corporate Financing Facility scheme, subsequently 
repaid and replaced with a revolving credit facility 
through a syndicate of lending banks;

 – Operational costs have been tightly managed in  
our shops, through a reduced range and fewer  
trading hours;

 – Action has been taken to limit travel and access to our 
sites to cases where there is a clear business need;

 – A period of consultation regarding the need to  

reduce resource levels across the business resulted  
in 820 redundancies;

 – Rent negotiations have taken place with our landlords, 
and payments changed to a monthly-in-advance basis;

 – Capital expenditure has been closely managed, 

including a short pause in our shop-opening programme 
and a reassessment of corporate priorities; and

 – The planned rollout of new digital initiatives has been 
accelerated, to provide us with new routes to market. 
These include our partnership with Just Eat, offering 
delivery and a Click + Collect service.

The pandemic continues to impact on the business in a 
variety of ways, and we cannot determine future changes 
with any certainty.

“  Our priority throughout 
has been the safety, 
health and well-being  
of our customers and 
colleagues.”

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageSTAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Our stakeholders

The year 2020 will go down as a Covid-19 
dominated year, when boards of directors 
were forced to consider the impacts of a 
global pandemic on their stakeholders  
while trying to maintain business as usual, 
ensure survival and plan to emerge better  
and stronger. 

The world adapted quickly to meeting 
virtually, and the Directors found new ways to 
gain an understanding of the pressures faced 
by the business, and how it could maintain,  
as far as possible, its strategic initiatives. 

Section 172 statement
Our Section 172 statement describes how the Directors, 
individually and collectively, acting in good faith, have 
exercised their duties over the course of the year to promote 
the long-term success of the Company for the benefit of its 
members as a whole, and in doing so have had regard to the 
matters set out in section 172(1) (a) to (f) of the Companies 
Act 2006.

51

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageSTAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT CONTINUED

Strategic Pillars

 1   Great tasting, freshly prepared food 
 2   Best customer experience
 3   Competitive supply chain

 4   First class support teams
 5   The Greggs Pledge

CUSTOMERS

COLLEAGUES

SUPPLIERS

SHAREHOLDERS

LENDERS

COMMUNITIES

How and why we engage

 2  

 4  

 1  
 5    
Our customers are at the 
heart of everything we do. 
Understanding the role we 
play in peoples’ lives is at the 
forefront of how we plan and 
operate, so we’re constantly 
evolving our proposition to 
remain relevant. By speaking 
to customers in shops, 
through our Customer Care 
and Insight teams and 
across our digital channels 
– we’re constantly listening 
and learning so we can 
understand how best to 
serve the nation.

52

 3  

 2  

 4  

 1  
 5  
Our people are what makes 
our business successful. We 
want to provide them with a 
great place to work, where 
they feel valued. During the 
pandemic, we created a 
dedicated employee portal, 
with regular Chief Executive 
updates. We hold regular 
local listening groups and 
partnership forums across 
the business, and have 
developed channels to 
provide feedback including 
colleague suggestion 
scheme ‘Your Ideas Matter’.

 3  

 5    

 1  
By working collaboratively 
with suppliers who share  
our values, we can produce 
high-quality products, while 
having a positive impact  
on people and the planet. 
Regular meetings, joint 
projects, supplier visits and 
our Annual Conference are 
just a few examples. We use 
the Ariba platform to qualify 
suppliers and a variety of 
tools to support our focus  
on ethics and sustainability.

 3  

 2  

 4  

 1  
 5  
It is our regulatory obligation 
to inform our shareholders  
of significant business 
developments. As a result of 
the pandemic, we have been 
required to consider the 
impact on our shareholders 
throughout. The Chief 
Executive and the Finance 
Director lead on engagement 
with shareholders in relation 
to business performance via 
virtual roadshows following 
major announcements.  
The Chairman, Senior 
Independent Director and 
Remuneration Committee 
chair also have regular 
contact with shareholders  
in order to ensure that the 
Board is aware of their 
expectations in respect  
of governance.

 4  

 5  

 2  
Following the arrangement 
of additional liquidity as a 
precaution against further 
business interruptions, 
lenders are now included in 
our major stakeholders list. 
Greggs has always 
maintained good 
relationships with banking 
partners and has now  
agreed a syndicate-backed 
revolving credit facility. New 
communication processes 
have been established to 
ensure that lenders receive 
regular updates on business 
performance, as well as 
more formal confirmation  
of covenant compliance.

 5  

 1  
The sheer ‘localness’ of  
our operations and our 
longstanding relationship 
with The Greggs Foundation 
helps us to better 
understand the needs of  
our communities and how 
we are best placed to make  
a positive impact. Through 
initiatives such as 
supporting Greggs Breakfast 
Clubs, our food donation 
programme and working 
with people in the 
community to help get them 
get back into employment 
through our Fresh Start 
programme, we aim to  
build stronger, healthier 
communities.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageSTAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT CONTINUED

CUSTOMERS

COLLEAGUES

SUPPLIERS

SHAREHOLDERS

LENDERS

COMMUNITIES

We understand the 
significance of our custom 
to our suppliers, and the 
pressure they were also 
under during the early 
stages of the pandemic. 
With financial support 
behind us we were able to 
meet all of our financial 
obligations, including those 
to landlords. The Board took 
the view that the strong 
long-term relationships that 
we have with our suppliers 
and landlords are an asset  
to the business and it was 
right to protect this.

Perhaps the most significant 
decisions taken by the Board 
in the year related to 
supporting our 20,000+ 
colleagues through the 
pandemic, keeping them  
as safe as we could when 
they were at work, and 
maintaining a level of income 
if they were furloughed. 
Feedback from colleagues 
has influenced the Board’s 
decisions relating to the 
working environment and 
access to government 
support for job retention. In 
particular, the participation 
of our colleagues in the 
consultation process to 
re-size the workforce to 
match expected demand 
was successful in minimising 
the number of roles lost.

Impact on Board decisions

The health and safety of  
our colleagues and 
customers is of utmost 
importance. When we 
reopened our shops we did  
so under strict Covid-secure 
conditions, and we utilised 
the space in our shops, to 
clearly communicate the 
important safety messages  
in line with government 
guidance. Although footfall 
related to shopping and office 
working was significantly 
impacted, there was a clear 
need for our services from 
our customers, many of 
whom do not work in offices 
and are classed as key 
workers. At the same time, 
we wanted to offer a service 
to customers who were able 
to stay at home and so 
decided to keep our supply 
lines open to maintain our 
supply of ‘bake at home’ lines 
to Iceland. Our development 
teams worked quickly to 
rapidly roll out our Click + 
Collect and delivery services, 
exclusively with Just Eat.

SEE THE GOVERNANCE SECTION ON PAGES 57-70 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

53

We understand our 
shareholders and have 
discussed their attitude  
to capital allocation.  
In the second half of 2021,  
as cash became available, 
we prioritised investment  
for growth, knowing that 
shareholders value the 
returns made by the 
business and are prepared  
to prioritise this use of cash 
in the short term.

The Board’s experience and 
up-to-date understanding  
of the commercial lending 
market was very helpful in 
supporting the executive 
team to establish the new 
revolving credit facility, 
ensuring it provided 
sufficient flexibility for our 
current and future needs.

Greggs’ support for 
communities is sponsored  
at a senior level and so the 
Board was kept aware of  
the pressures being seen in 
the communities where we 
operate as the pandemic 
took hold. In the face of 
increased food poverty and 
hardship in our communities 
the Board felt it more 
important than ever to 
maintain its support for the 
work of Greggs Foundation 
and to maintain partnerships 
with organisations that 
distribute food to those in 
need, joining BITC’s National 
Business Response Network 
to bolster our efforts in this 
area. The Board supported 
policies to encourage 
colleagues on furlough to 
volunteer their time and to 
donate food and drink to our 
NHS and key worker heroes.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC  REPORT DIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageBOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SECRETARY

Teamwork 
at its best.

Like so many we have adapted to communicating 
virtually. This has worked well, making it easier 
to be in regular contact with management. 

Ian Durant 
Chairman

IAN  
DURANT
Chairman

Ian has a background in international 
finance and commercial management, 
with experience in the retail, property, 
hotels and transport sectors. His career 
includes leadership roles with the retail 
division of Hanson and Jardine Matheson, 
Hongkong Land, Dairy Farm International, 
Thistle Hotels and SeaContainers and  
he was previously Finance Director  
of Liberty International. Ian is an 
experienced non-executive director  
of several UK-listed companies, having 
served on the Boards of Westbury, Home 
Retail Group and Greene King. He was 
Chairman of Capital and Counties 
Properties plc between 2010 and 2018.

Appointed since
5 October 2011

RICHARD  
HUTTON  
FCA
Finance Director

Richard qualified as a Chartered 
Accountant with KPMG and gained 
career experience with Procter and 
Gamble before joining Greggs in 1998.

ROGER  
WHITESIDE  
OBE
Chief Executive

Roger began his career at Marks and 
Spencer where he spent 20 years, 
ultimately becoming head of its food 
business. He was then one of the 
founding team of Ocado, serving as  
Joint Managing Director from 2000 to 
2004. From 2004 to 2007 Roger led a 
successful turnaround as Chief 
Executive of the Thresher Group 
off-licence chain before joining Punch 
Taverns, ultimately becoming Chief 
Executive. Roger was awarded an OBE 
for services to Women and Equality in 
the 2019 New Year Honours List.

Appointed since
17 March 2008 (Non-Executive Director 
until 3 February 2013) before becoming 
Chief Executive in February 2013

Appointed since
13 March 2006

Independent
On appointment

Independent
N/A

Independent
N/A

External appointments
Chairman of DFS Furniture plc.

Non-Executive Director Warren Partners 
& Chair of Employee Ownership Trust.

External appointments
Member of the Women’s  
Business Council.

Non-Executive Director  
of Card Factory plc.

External appointments
Non-Executive Director and Chair  
of the Audit Committee of The Lakes 
Distillery Company plc. Trustee Director 
of Business in the Community. 

Trustee of Greggs Foundation. 

Trustee of The Alnwick Garden Trust.

54

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageBOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SECRETARY CONTINUED

HELENA 
GANCZAKOWSKI
Non-Executive Director

KATE  
FERRY
Non-Executive Director

PETER  
MCPHILLIPS
Non-Executive Director

SANDRA  
TURNER
Non-Executive Director

JONATHAN  
JOWETT
Company Secretary  
and General Counsel

Helena worked for Unilever for 23 years 
holding senior positions in brand 
management and marketing, including  
UK Marketing Director and ultimately  
Head of Global Agencies. Helena has  
a PhD in Engineering from the University 
of Cambridge.

Kate was recently announced as the new 
Chief Financial Officer at McLaren Group 
effective from 1 April 2021. She is currently 
CFO at TalkTalk Group plc, and has 
previously held positions on the Dixons 
Carphone plc Executive Committee, 
originally joining the Carphone Warehouse 
Group plc in 2010 as Corporate Affairs 
Director to facilitate the demerger from 
TalkTalk.

Kate began her career in audit with 
PricewaterhouseCoopers, qualifying as  
a Chartered Account before moving to 
Merrill Lynch as a Director within the retail 
sector equity research team, where she 
spent the next ten years.

Peter spent most of his executive career  
in food manufacturing, having held a 
number of executive positions including 
that of Divisional Managing Director of 
Hillsdown Holdings, Director of Terranova 
(the chilled foods business demerged  
from Hillsdown Holdings) and ultimately  
as UK Managing Director of Uniq plc. More 
recently, Peter was European Chairman  
of Hain Celestial Group.

Sandra has been involved in the retail 
sector throughout her career and was 
employed by Tesco PLC, latterly as 
Commercial Director for Tesco Ireland, 
from 1987 to 2009. Prior to this she worked 
in sales and marketing roles for Unilever 
and Wilkinson Sword.

Jonathan is a lawyer by profession and has 
held the position of Company Secretary for 
a number of FTSE 250 and FTSE Smallcap 
companies. His previous employers include 
Avon Cosmetics Limited, SSL International 
plc, Wagon plc and Bakkavor Group.

Appointed since
2 January 2014

Independent
Yes

Appointed since
1 June 2019

Independent
Yes

Appointed since
10 March 2014

Independent
Yes

External appointments
Senior Independent Non-Executive 
Director and Remuneration Committee 
Chair of Croda International Plc.

Owner and manager of a consulting 
business working at a global level with 
multi-national food businesses.

External appointments
Chief Financial Officer of TalkTalk Group 
(until March 2021).

External appointments
Non-Executive Director  
of Browns Food Group. 

Chief Financial Officer of McLaren Group 
(from April 2021).

Non-Executive Director  
of Jackson’s Bakery Limited.

Appointed since
1 May 2014

Independent
Yes

External appointments
Non-Executive Director  
of Huhtämaki OYJ.

Appointed since
12 May 2010

Independent
N/A

External appointments
Member of the British Retail  
Consortium Policy Board.

Chair of the Trustees of the  
Percy Hedley Foundation.

Non-Executive Director of Newcastle 
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Committee Membership
Chair of Remuneration Committee. 
Member of Audit and Nominations 
Committees.

Committee Membership
Chair of Audit Committee. 
Remuneration and Nominations 
Committee member.

Committee Membership
Audit, Remuneration and Nominations 
Committee member.

Committee Membership
Senior Independent Director. Member of 
Remuneration, Audit and Nominations 
Committees.

Committee Membership
Secretary to the Board and all  
its Committees.

55

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageBOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SECRETARY CONTINUED

The Nominations Committee uses a skills matrix as it assesses the requirements 
for new recruits. This is shown below, with incumbents’ attributes:

Ian Durant

Kate Ferry

Helena Ganczakowski

Peter McPhillips

Sandra Turner

Roger Whiteside

Richard Hutton

UK PLC Executive  
Director experience

UK PLC Non-Executive 
Director outside Greggs

Finance/Banking

Mergers and Acquisitions

HR & Remuneration 
Committee experience

Food manufacturing 
experience

Food retailing experience

Food safety,  
Health & Safety

International experience

Broader consumer  
sector experience

Marketing expertise

Digital expertise

Gender diversity

Ethnicity diversity

Corporate governance

56

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGOVERNANCE REPORT – CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

Our culture and values 
will help ensure that 
we emerge stronger 
from the pandemic.

Dear shareholder,

This year of extreme and constant uncertainty and 
disruption to our business from the Covid-19 pandemic 
has tested the adaptability and resilience of our staff, 
management teams and the Board. This report will 
illustrate how the Greggs corporate governance 
regime has operated in 2020. 

57

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGOVERNANCE REPORT CONTINUED

As you will have seen from my general introduction to this 
year’s report and accounts, the Board has been focused  
on the health and safety of our colleagues and customers 
and the governance issues associated with responding  
to the pandemic. 

The responsiveness of the Board and how it has 
operated
In order to address short-term priorities, and at the same 
time maintain continued oversight of the business with a 
balanced view of the longer term in an efficient and safe 
way, all of our Board and Board Committee meetings were, 
from mid-March onwards, held via video-conferencing. 
We did not have the opportunity to visit the shops, bakeries 
and offices to the extent that we would in a ‘normal’ year 
but have kept in touch regularly in other technology-
enabled and informal ways. It has been a very busy year for 
the Board, from steering the Company through the first 
lockdown in March when our operations were largely 
closed and there was a need to preserve cash and seek 
additional debt finance, through the various tier 
restrictions and lockdowns. 

Board composition and roles
All our Directors have served throughout this year. Helena 
Ganczakowski has, as previously advised, taken on the 
role of chairing the Remuneration Committee and 
Peter McPhillips has overseen our colleague engagement 
activities. As is noted in my statement at the front of this 
Annual Report, the Nominations Committee will now be 
considering a process to address CEO succession as Roger 
Whiteside approaches retirement age. Consequently, I have 
been asked by the Board to remain as Chair to oversee the 
change process. The ninth anniversary of my appointment 
as a Director was on 6 October 2020, and I was appointed as 
Chair in May 2013, so for a short time during the year we were 
not fully compliant with Provision 19 of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code (2018).

Our people
It has been a priority for the Board this year to look after 
the health and welfare of our people, and listen to their 
views, while at the same time continuing to serve the 
needs of our customers amid disrupted operating 
conditions. Those trading conditions unfortunately 
necessitated parting company with 820 colleagues in a 
programme informed by the values of the Company and 
our previous experience. The effects of the pandemic  
on the working arrangements and financial rewards of  
our people have been substantial and the Board has 
endeavoured to ensure that there is a balance of interests 
and fairness of treatment.

Culture
Alongside the focus on the impact of Covid-19, the Board 
has taken time through the year to continue to reflect on 
culture and engagement. To assist with this, we undertook 
a review of our Board culture via Heidrick & Struggles’ 
‘Culture Signature’, programme. We used this during the 
course of our internal Board evaluation of the year, as a 
pointer towards our key focus and objectives for 2021. 
Regarding culture across the business, the Board has 
continued to devote time to assessing and evaluating this 
in a consultative and informed way. More detail on this can 
be found on page 63 in this report.

Stakeholder engagement
During the year we considered our approach to engaging 
with various stakeholder groups, recognising the 
importance of our people, our suppliers (including 
landlords), our owners, the Government and the 
communities in which we operate. You can read more 
about our stakeholders and our approach to stakeholder 
engagement on pages 51 to 53 and 67 to 70. I continue to 
welcome feedback from all of our stakeholders on how  
we are doing in terms of our governance, and where we 
might improve our approach.

I took the opportunity to meet (virtually, alongside Helena 
Ganczakowski, our Remuneration Committee Chair) with  
a number of our major shareholders, to take their feedback 
on our new remuneration policy, approved by the 
shareholders at the AGM in May, and our plans for 
implementing that policy in 2021. We also discussed 
potential succession, both for the Chief Executive and  
for my role, in anticipation of future change.

58

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGOVERNANCE REPORT CONTINUED

Environmental, social and governance
At the beginning of 2020, we launched our 2025 
sustainability targets, in the form of the Greggs Pledge. 
Understandably, further progress and the details of our 
commitments were not released because of the pandemic. 
However, the Board built on those commitments during  
the year, to include our plans for achieving net zero carbon 
emissions by 2040, and the Greggs Pledge was formally 
launched on 24 February 2021. Further reference to our 
commitments can be found on pages 34 to 40, and full 
details can be found at https://corporate.greggs.co.uk/
the-greggs-pledge/.

Our diversity and inclusion programme is moving beyond 
its previous focus on gender, and the coming year should 
see us reporting on our assessment against the National 
Equality Standard. 

Revised Articles of Association and 2021 AGM
We will be asking shareholders to adopt revised articles  
of association at the 2021 AGM. This is principally to allow 
hybrid physical and online shareholder meetings in the 
future, but we have also taken the opportunity to update 
the articles given that they have not been tabled for 
shareholders since 2010. A summary of the proposed 
changes is set out in the appendix to the Notice of AGM, 
which in turn is available on the website and a copy of 
which can be requested from the Company Secretary.

As for the AGM, to be held on 14 May 2021 at 9:00am,  
we anticipate there are likely to be Covid-19 restrictions 
still in place in relation to indoor gatherings. Consequently, 
access to the meeting is unlikely to be permitted. So we 
would urge shareholders to vote using the proxy form  
that will be sent out with the Notice of AGM. We had an 
encouraging increase in the number of shareholders  
who voted in 2020, with around 73 per cent of the  
votes cast, an increase from 63 per cent in 2019.
Although we will be running a very low key but compliant 
AGM, in line with restrictions currently in place and 
anticipated to be in place, shareholders will have the 
opportunity to view online, and full details are given in the 
Notice of AGM. We are looking forward with hope to being 
in a position to welcome shareholders to our meeting in 
2022, with an extended presence online.

I invite you to review the following pages, which set out 
how we have otherwise complied with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code (2018) across the year, and also our 
statement on page 51 and pages 67 to 70 describing  
how the Directors have fulfilled their duties to our key 
stakeholders under Section 172 of the Companies Act 
2006. 

Ian Durant
Chairman
16 March 2021

59

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGOVERNANCE REPORT CONTINUED

Colleague engagement
As will be recorded elsewhere, lockdowns, tier restrictions, 
and social-distancing needs significantly reduced the 
amount of interaction that Non-Executive Directors have 
had with colleagues. Nevertheless, the well-established 
communication channels with our union colleagues, 
through the Greggs Negotiating Committee, continued to 
be an effective and valuable forum through 2020 and we 
swiftly moved into virtual sessions to facilitate ongoing, 
direct and regular communication. The sessions provided 
a great opportunity to speak directly with teams to 
understand their feedback and concerns as we navigated 
through the year and were attended by our Chief Executive 
and by Peter McPhillips who, following his reelection at the 
AGM in May, was nominated as our Non-Executive Director 
with responsibility for overseeing colleague engagement. 
Sessions included the following:

 – April 2020 – the first session after the Covid-19 

pandemic had taken hold. Topics discussed included 
closure of the shops, pay and government support 
through furlough and the planned trial for a phased 
reopening of shops and production centres; 

 – May 2020 – The Retail Operations and People Director 
accompanied the Chief Executive and talked through 
the shop opening trial, and signage promoting  
‘Covid-secure’ opening arrangements for shops  
and in bakeries. The plan to move pay for furloughed 
colleagues back to 80 per cent of salary or contracted 
hours from 1 July 2020 was also discussed; 

 – August 2020 – the Chief Executive shared the half-year 
results and a furlough scheme update (which was then 
due to end in October); and

 – December 2020 – post-redundancy consultation thanks 
were given, along with a business update and a look to 
the future.

60

Given the impact of the pandemic, management’s 
communication with colleagues was further increased 
through the use of a web portal. This gave both furloughed 
and working colleagues access to regular updates from  
the Chief Executive on the impact of the pandemic,  
plans to reopen shops and production sites, and general 
information on how the business was performing.

In September 2020 we moved into a period of collective 
consultation with all our colleagues, necessitated by  
the need to resize the business during the anticipated, 
continuing period of reduced trading as a result of the 
pandemic. In undertaking this collective consultation, 
management met with both our colleagues and union 
representatives on a weekly basis through to November, 
across our Retail, Supply and Greggs House teams. Sadly, 
this led to 820 colleagues leaving the business in early 
November 2020.

Following the conclusion of this consultation our relevant 
senior management and people teams continued to meet 
virtually with union representatives from our shops and 
across the supply sites, in order to ensure that views could 
be heard and decisions made with regards to the day-to-day 
management of the business. Discussions generally take 
place across the year at both local supply sites and within 
retail regions and are referred to as Joint Consultative 
Committees. They feed into our National Partnership 
Forums which are jointly chaired by our Head of People and a 
Head of Retail/Supply Chain. The National Retail Partnership 
forum met much more regularly than normal in order that 
feedback could be sought as operations and guidelines  
were changed quickly, due to the impact of the pandemic. 

Before the pandemic struck, members of the Board were 
able to attend the annual Management Conference held  
at The Sage, Gateshead. This allowed Non-Executive 
Directors to attend sessions on plans for the year, 
including the launch of Next Generation Greggs and the 
Greggs Pledge (our ESG programme), and to mix informally 
with staff from our shops, supply chain and head office, 
listening to their views on the Company’s plans. While we 
have not been able to engage with colleagues to the same 
extent in 2020 as we have done in previous years, in 2021 
we will be exploring the opportunity for further virtual 
discussion and debate, until restrictions are lifted. 

An Employee Opinion Survey is generally undertaken each 
year. However, in 2020 management decided that, in the 
throes of the pandemic, the expense of the survey would 
not be incurred. However, it is expected that the survey will 
be relaunched during 2021. Nevertheless, the Board was 
kept apprised of informal feedback received via discussion 
groups and social media.

In 2019, the Chairman was accompanied by Non-Executive 
Directors at a series of ‘listening groups’ as part of the 
Board’s engagement programme. One such event was held 
in January 2020, when the Chair and Helena Ganczakowski 
met with around 20 Greggs House colleagues to discuss the 
work of the Board in general, interactions with the Chief 
Executive and Operating Board, and more specifically on 
the work of the Remuneration Committee. Feedback from 
that session was positive, with colleagues feeling able to 
ask questions in an informal environment. There were no 
further sessions held in 2020, but there is a plan to restart 
these in 2021, initially virtually, but hopefully in person when 
Covid-19 restrictions allow. 

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Investing in and rewarding the Greggs workforce
As previously reported, the business had performed 
exceptionally well in 2019, and the Board was pleased to  
be able to reward colleagues with a special payment in 
January 2020 to recognise their efforts in the previous year. 

Each year, the team undertakes an annual wage review 
with union colleagues, and as a general rule, whatever  
is balloted and agreed for shop and supply chain teams  
is then applied to the management population and to the 
Directors. Those negotiations didn’t conclude until the  
end of February and the plan was to implement the agreed 
increase of three per cent in the March payroll, backdated 
where appropriate. The base pay rate of three per cent was 
subsequently implemented for supply sites and support 
teams as of January (backdated in March). The pay award 
for our retail teams was a base rate of three per cent with 
an additional 0.6 per cent for certain senior shop grades 
and an additional 2.5 per cent for our general team 
members (5.5 per cent in total) – this was implemented  
in April 2020 in line with the agreement reached with  
the union. 

As the pandemic hit, and lockdown commenced on 
23 March 2020, the Board took several decisions regarding 
remuneration. Firstly, it decided that it would be 
inappropriate to proceed with the three per cent salary 
increase for management grades planned for March and, 
therefore, this was postponed and subsequently cancelled. 

Secondly, the decision was taken to maintain the 
remuneration of those placed on furlough at 100 per cent 
of salary or contracted hours, at least until 1 July 2020, 
while at the same time the Board and Operating Board 
agreed to a voluntary reduction of 20 per cent of salaries 
and fees, and salary-linked benefits e.g. pension 
contributions. This reduction remained in place from  
1 April until 1 September 2020. 

61

The remuneration of furloughed colleagues was kept at 
100 per cent until 1 July 2020, when, in fairness to those 
who continued to work full-time, the remuneration of 
those furloughed was reduced to 80 per cent; this was 
maintained across the year as colleagues emerged  
from furlough.

As noted in page 84 in the Remuneration Report, the 
pensions contributions for Executive Directors will be 
reduced over a five year period until they match those 
contributions available to the workforce. In this respect 
the Company was not compliant with Provision 38 of the  
UK Corporate Governance code during the year.

Board engagement with shareholders
The Chair takes responsibility for ensuring that key 
shareholders are aware of, and supportive of, the Board’s 
approach to governance, networking widely across the 
institutional shareholder population, and meeting with 
larger shareholders. In 2020, the Chair met with several  
of our largest institutional shareholders, and was 
accompanied by another Non-Executive Director. These 
included sessions covering the remuneration policy that 
was approved at the AGM held in May 2020, and how it  
was to be applied. During these sessions the Chair was 
accompanied by Helena Ganczakowski, who took over as 
Chair of the Remuneration Committee from Sandra Turner 
following the 2020 AGM.

It was regrettable that, because of the pandemic, we were 
unable to welcome our ‘retail’ shareholders to our AGM. In 
anticipation of similar restrictions in 2021, we are looking 
at ways to involve all shareholders by giving them the 
opportunity to ask questions ahead of the AGM. 

Following key announcements, the anonymised views  
of shareholders are reported to the Board by UBS and 
Investec, the Company’s retained brokers, and press and 

analyst feedback is provided by Hudson Sandler, the 
Company’s financial communications consultants.

Further information on shareholder engagement is set out 
in the s172 Statement on page 51 and pages 67 to 70 and in 
the Remuneration Report on page 83. 

Division of responsibilities 
The Board considers that the Chair was independent on 
appointment and that all of the Non-Executive Directors 
are independent. Full details are set out below, and 
remuneration is addressed in the Remuneration Report. 
Away from the boardroom, the Chair communicates 
regularly with the Non-Executive Directors, both 
collectively and individually, giving them plenty of 
opportunity to express their opinions and raise any 
concerns they may have. 

Sandra Turner is the Senior Independent Director. Sandra 
chairs at least one meeting of the Non-Executive Directors 
annually, without the Chair being present. There is a clear 
division of responsibility between the Chair and the Chief 
Executive, and terms of reference for each of the Board 
committees are in place, having been reviewed and revised 
to ensure they meet the requirements of the Code. The 
precise responsibilities of the Senior Independent Director 
are set out in a role specification that has been approved 
by the Nominations Committee and the Board. 

The Board generally schedules six formal meetings per year, 
and then on an ad hoc basis as required. These meetings may 
also be interspersed with informal Board calls, where the 
Chief Executive and the Finance Director provide updates on 
trading and business matters generally. In 2020, additional 
formal meetings were required in order to review and 
approve the accessing of the Covid Corporate Finance 
Facility, and ahead of the launching of the redundancy 
collective consultation exercise. 

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Board meetings are well-attended, as the table below shows:

Attendance

Ian Durant

Roger Whiteside

Richard Hutton

Helena Ganczakowski

Kate Ferry

Peter McPhillips

Sandra Turner

Main  
Board

Audit 
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

Nominations 
Committee

9/9

9/9

9/9

9/9

9/9

9/9

7/9

–

–

–

4/4

4/4

4/4

2/4

–

–

–

4/4

4/4

4/4

3/4

3/3

–

–

3/3

3/3

3/3

2/3

All Directors have access to the Company Secretary, 
whose appointment and removal is one of the matters 
reserved to the Board.

Board composition, succession and evaluation 
The Nominations Committee’s responsibilities are set out 
in written terms of reference, available on the Company’s 
website. Its primary responsibility is to ensure plans are  
in place for orderly succession to the Board and Operating 
Board. The Board Chair is Chair of the Committee, and all 
Non-Executive Directors are members. The Chief 
Executive is a regular attendee at meetings, and from  
time to time the Finance Director is also invited.

There were no appointments to the Board in the year. 
However, at the AGM in May 2020, Helena Ganczakowski 
took over as Chair of the Remuneration Committee, with 
Sandra Turner remaining as the Senior Independent 
Director, and Peter McPhillips was appointed as the 
Non-Executive Director charged with overseeing 
engagement with colleagues.

Last year it was reported that the Nominations Committee 
had been reviewing the tenures of all Directors and has 
prepared a succession timetable to cover the coming five 
years. As is recorded in the Chair’s Statement on page 58  
in due course we will commence the search for a new  
Chief Executive, as Roger approaches retirement age. In 
recognition of this, and taking into account the disruption 
to the business caused by the pandemic, Ian Durant has 
been asked by the Board to remain as Chair in order to 
oversee succession. Ian was first appointed to the Board  
in October 2011, and became Chair in May 2013. The Board 
recognises that by extending his tenure until that date, the 
Company will not be compliant with Provision 19 of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code which observes that the Chair 
should not remain in post beyond nine years from first 
appointment to the Board. The Board, led by the Senior 
Independent Director, is of the view that Ian remains fully 
committed, and it is right and proper that Ian remains in 
the Chair to oversee such a sensitive and critical 
recruitment. The potential for this scenario was discussed 
with several of our largest shareholders during 2020, 
whose response was supportive.

The Nominations Committee regularly updates a matrix  
of the skills brought to the Board by all Directors, both 
Executive and Non-Executive, as the succession strategy 
is developed. The current matrix is shown on page 56. Core 
skills that the Board has identified include food retailing 
and manufacturing, and digital and consumer marketing, 
As part of Non-Executive Director succession planning, 
the Board is seeking another Non-Executive Director, and 
with that appointment hopes to make further progress in 
developing a more diverse Board of Directors. 

The Nominations Committee is currently supported by 
Heidrick & Struggles. Based on a recommendation from 
the Nominations Committee, each of the Directors offers 
themselves for reelection.

The Board receives regular updates from the Chief 
Executive on the performance of the Operating Board,  
and a succession plan is tabled so that the Board can  
see the talent pipeline for each functional area.

Board evaluation and focus
The Board conducts an annual evaluation of its activities. 
The Board had agreed that in 2020 its focus should be on 
succession planning to include a refreshed skills analysis, 
continuing to develop stakeholder engagement plans and 
the strategic move to Next Generation Greggs. The Board 
had also committed to monitor plans to improve allergen 
labelling, given that the provision of information and 
protection to customers with allergies had been identified 
as a key risk. The Board received regular updates on 
progress with Next Generation Greggs across the year, 
ahead of the launch of the new Greggs app which is 
expected to be in the second quarter of 2021. The allergen-
labelling project brought about by Natasha’s Law was 
paused because of the pandemic, having got off to a good 
start in preparing for the legislation that will come into 
force in October 2021. Progress included the trialling of 
tablets containing up to date allergen information for 
customers, and new processes to ensure the application 
of the correct ingredient label onto sandwich and other 
packaging. The project has re-commenced, and will 
continue to feature in the Board’s monitoring in the run up 
to the legislation coming into force.

62

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As part of its succession planning, the Board participated 
in the Heidrick & Struggles’ Culture Signature review. This 
was used as part of the Board’s evaluation of its 2020 
performance. Findings from that review included:

 – There is a very strong, positive culture in the 

organisation, engendering high regard for colleagues;
 – There is a high sense of pride and integrity in engaging 

with colleagues;

 – Whilst a culture of innovation and creativity was among 
the lower-scoring attributes, nonetheless the scores were 
generally higher than seen in other organisations; and

 – The Board should be wary of the potential for  

‘group think’, ensuring that there is an atmosphere  
of ‘healthy conflict’.

Looking back over the Board’s performance in 2020, 
Non-Executive Directors reported that, even though they 
had met more frequently across the year, they had felt  
less engaged with the operational detail than had been 
previously experienced, as the management team coped 
with the constantly-changing requirements to address 
issues brought about by the pandemic. Nevertheless, 
information flows were good throughout, and the Directors 
concluded that the crisis had been well-handled. It was 
generally agreed that 2021 should herald a ‘new normal’ 
bringing back as quickly as a possible the engagement 
activities previously undertaken.

As for the focus in 2021, the Board had undertaken a 
specific session in 2020 on what ought to be the 
Company’s target for achieving net zero carbon emissions. 
These are now set out as part of the Board’s sustainability 
strategy, known as the Greggs Pledge, which can be found 
at https://corporate.greggs.co.uk/responsibility/the-
greggs-pledge. It was agreed that the ten commitments 
forming the Greggs Pledge would be subject to regular 
scrutiny and progress reporting across the year.

63

The Board’s second key objective was agreed to be the 
further development of its diversity and inclusion strategy. 
The Board had received a briefing in September 2020 on 
the process for achieving the National Equality Standard 
(NES) and the steps required. It was agreed that significant 
progress should be made across 2021, starting with the 
Board undertaking a discussion on ‘Inclusive Leadership’. 
Our diversity and inclusion (D&I) route map is shown in 
Figure 1 and the plan for 2021 activities in Figure 2.

Figure 1: D&I route map

5

4

3

Assessment
National Equality 
Standard, The Greggs 
Pledge and our legislative 
reporting requirements.

Colleague networks
WDP progression, LGBT built on 
Pride, BAME, Listening Groups, 
Disability Forum.

L&D and Recruitment
Diversity awareness for Managers and 
colleagues as well as specific training  
for those who recruit. Engaging ‘middle 
management’.

Figure 2: 2021 D&I activity

Milestone 1 – NES Leadership 
consultation 1

Leadership interviews will form part of the 
initial NES assessment to assess levels of 
current D&I understanding and ambition. This 
will identify what will be required to achieve 
full proficiency across the leadership NES 
pillar and will inform the development of an 
inclusive leadership programme.

Dec 
2020- 
Jan 2021
NES Leadership 
Consultations

Milestone 2 – Inclusive 
Leadership Delivery

Delivery of the inclusive leadership session 
to Main Board and Operating Board by EY.

Q1 2021
Inclusive 
Leadership 
delivery

Milestone 3 – NES 
Leadership consultation 2

Q3 2021
NES Leadership 
consultation 2

Further leadership interviews (after document 
submission process and employee listening 
through ‘scan’ assessment) to capture further 
insight and progress before NES report and 
assessment is finalised.

2

1

Leadership
15% of the NES assessment focuses directly on 
leadership including the Main Board and Operating 
Board, assessing commitment and accountability, 
inclusive leadership and visibility and messaging.

Data & Measurement
Robust demographic data capture needs to be in place across 
the employee lifecycle, starting with current colleague 
population. This will enable us to assess our current position as 
well as set targets and measure our performance at attraction, 
recruitment, succession and retention.

Our Chief Executive recently co-led the preparation of the 
British Retail Consortium’s ‘Better Jobs D&I Charter’ that 
we have now signed, and which, among other things, seeks 
to take positive action to support open career opportunity 
and progression. We have also recently joined The Valuable 
500, where our commitments to both current and future 
disabled colleagues includes improving the data we hold 
for our colleagues including whether they have a disability, 
and reviewing accessibility in our recruitment processes 
and the training we provide.

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Women in management
The Board as a whole, rather than the Nominations 
Committee, monitors the gender balance in the Company. 
69 per cent of our colleagues are women, with female 
workers representing the majority of the workforce in our 
retail shops. We have a strong representation of women at 
the most senior level, with three of the five Non-Executive 
Directors being female, placing us 34th in the FTSE250.  
At Operating Board level, excluding the two Executive 
Directors, two out of seven are women and approximately 
44 per cent of roles reporting into an Operating Board 
Director are held by women. Our Chief Executive sits  
on the Women’s Business Council and we are pursuing 
improvement in diversity through participation in the 
National Equality Standard. Further information on our 
statutory gender reporting can be found on page 23.

Other disclosures 
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 28 December 2019 and 2 January 2021 are 
set out in the Directors’ remuneration report on page 99. 
Details of the Directors’ share options are set out in the 
Directors’ remuneration report on page 98.

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.

64

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 
they have 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 their authority, 
the Directors have had regard to their statutory and other 
duties to the Company.

Substantial shareholdings
At 16 March 2021 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:

MFS Investment Management

Blackrock, Inc.

Standard Life Aberdeen plc

Aviva plc

Number of  
shares held

10,029,195

5,198,552

4,215,395

3,234,535

Percentage  
of issued  
share capital

9.90

5.12

4.17

3.20

Additional information
 – Greenhouse gas emissions: All disclosures concerning 
the Group’s greenhouse gas emissions (as required to 
be disclosed under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic 
Report and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013 are 
contained in the non-financial KPIs on page 21.

Authority to purchase shares
At the AGM on 13 May 2020, the shareholders passed a 
resolution authorising the purchase by the Company of its 
own shares to a maximum of 10,100,000 ordinary shares of 
two pence each.

That authority had not been used as at 2 January 2021.

The authority remains in force until the conclusion of the 
AGM in 2021 or 12 August 2021, whichever is the earlier.  
It is the Board’s intention to seek approval at the 2021 AGM 
for the renewal of this authority.

Takeover directive information
Following the implementation of the European Directive on 
Takeover Bids by certain provisions of the Companies Act 
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 two pence each. As at 16 March 2021, 
there were 101,495,971 such ordinary shares in issue. 
There are no shares in the Company that grant the 
holder special rights with regard to the 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 or her;

 – 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 or her, to be present or vote at a general 
meeting either personally or by proxy (or to exercise any 

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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) of the CA 2006 
or if any shareholder has failed to reply to a duly-served 
notice requiring him or her to provide a written 
statement stating he or she is the beneficial owner of 
the 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 or her 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 or she is not entitled to attend and vote;

 – 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;

 – 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;

 – Under the Company’s articles of association the 

 – The Company’s articles of association set out how 

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);

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 must retire from office but is eligible 
for election by the shareholders. Furthermore, the 
Board has resolved that, in line with Corporate 
Governance Code (2018 revision), all the Directors will  
be subject to annual reelection by 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 carry out 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 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 buy back shares in the Company. At each 
Annual General Meeting, resolutions are proposed 
granting and setting limits on these powers;

 – The Company is not party to any significant agreements 
which take effect, alter or terminate upon a change in 
control of the Company, following a takeover bid; and
 – There are no agreements between the Company and  

its Directors or employees providing for compensation 
for loss of office or employment (whether 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 79 to 101. However, provisions in the 
employee share plans operated by the Company may 
allow options to be exercised on a takeover.

Employees
Applications for employment of disabled people are always 
fully considered, bearing in mind the aptitudes of the 
applicant concerned. In the event of members of staff 
being disabled every effort is made to ensure that their 
employment within the Company continues and that 
appropriate training is arranged. It is the policy of the 
Company that the training, career development and 
promotion of disabled people should, as far as possible,  
be identical to that of other employees.

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.

65

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pagePolitical donations
Greggs has a clear policy forbidding political donations  
or contributions. This includes financial and in-kind 
contributions made by the Company.

Disclosure of information to the auditor
Each of the Directors who held office at the date of 
approval of this Directors’ report confirms that, so far  
as they are individually aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware, 
and that they have taken all the steps that they ought to 
have taken as a Director to make themselves aware of  
any relevant audit information, and to establish that the 
Company’s auditor is aware of that information.

GOVERNANCE REPORT CONTINUED

Accountability, audit and going concern
The Board acknowledges its responsibility to present  
a fair, balanced and understandable assessment of the 
Company’s position and prospects. In order to assist  
the Board to comply with the requirements within the 
Governance Code, each year the Audit Committee is 
requested to undertake an assessment of the annual 
report and to make a recommendation to the Board.  
This request has been enshrined within the Audit 
Committee’s terms of reference, which are available  
at corporate.greggs.co.uk.

The actions undertaken by the Audit Committee  
in confirming its advice to the Board included the 
consideration of a detailed review that has been 
undertaken by the Head of Business Assurance and 
reviewing the annual report as a whole to confirm that it 
presents a fair, balanced and understandable assessment. 
In considering the advice of the Audit Committee, and 
having reviewed the annual report including the contents 
of the strategic report on pages 2 to 53, together with the 
statutory accounts themselves, the Board duly considers 
the annual report and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, 
balanced and understandable, and provides the necessary 
information for shareholders to assess the Company’s 
performance, business model, and strategy.

A statement of Directors’ responsibilities in respect of  
the preparation of accounts is given on pages 102 and 103. 
A statement of auditor’s responsibilities is given in the 
report of the auditor on page 111.

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 122). 

66

The Board’s viability statement made in accordance  
with Code provision C.2.2 can be found on page 46. 

Policies
Freedom of association
At Greggs, we recognise the right of all employees to 
freedom of association and collective bargaining. Whilst 
we do not have a formal Freedom of Association policy, the 
Company encourages all its employees in bakeries, shops 
and offices to become, and remain, members of a union.

Bribery and corruption
Greggs has an Anti-Bribery and Corruption policy which 
applies to all employees and prohibits the offering, giving, 
seeking or acceptance of any bribe in any form to any 
person or company by acting on its behalf, in order to gain 
an advantage in an unethical way.

Business conduct
We have a specific policy that sets out the standards  
of ethical behaviour that are expected of all employees.  
All graded managers and members of the procurement 
department are required to make an annual confirmation 
of their compliance with the policy.

Whistle-blowing
Our ‘whistle-blowing’ policy creates an environment  
where employees are able to raise concerns without fear 
of disciplinary action being taken against them as a result 
of any disclosure. Any matters raised are treated in 
confidence and an independent review will be undertaken 
where it is appropriate. The Chair of the Audit Committee 
is the designated first point of contact for any concerns 
which cannot be addressed through normal management 
processes.

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Board engagement 
with stakeholders

The year 2020 will inevitably go down as a Covid-19 dominated year, when boards of directors 
were forced into considering their stakeholders in the midst of a global pandemic; trying to 
maintain business as usual, ensuring survival and planning to emerge better and stronger. 

Social distancing meant that, for most of the year, 
Directors were not able to follow their usual method of 
face-to-face engagement with colleagues, investors and 
other stakeholders. It was particularly disappointing not  
to be able to hold our Annual General Meeting in the North 
East, usually so well-attended by local retail shareholders, 
and former employees. 

The world adapted quickly to meeting virtually, and the 
Directors found new ways to gain an understanding of the 
pressures faced by the business, and how it could maintain 
as far as possible its strategic initiatives.

The previous year, 2019, was a record year, prompting special 
dividends to shareholders, and a one-off cash bonus for every 
employee on top of the annual profit share, paid in January 
2020. The first nine weeks of 2020 (before any financial 
impact of Covid-19) delivered company-managed like-for-like 
sales growth of 7.5 per cent, despite stormy weather in 
February and the flooding of the production centre in Wales. 
Against that background, this statement considers how the 
Directors have approached and met their responsibilities 
under s172 Companies Act 2006, with a particular focus on 
how the pandemic has shaped the Board’s decision-making.

67

The table below sets out some of the key matters considered by the Board in 2020

Business as ‘usual’

Strategic

Trading and financial performance  
including a greater focus on cash flow

Next Generation Greggs –  
digital strategy

Shop estate performance

Click + Collect/delivery

ESG

The Greggs Pledge

Responsible sourcing – palm oil  
and chicken

Refinancing to survive Covid-19

Diversity & Inclusion strategy

Restructuring to reflect lower  
trading levels

Succession planning for Board  
and Operating Board

Distributing food waste

Customer insight and our competitive 
environment

Food Safety and Health & Safety

Employee Opinion Survey & actions

Our DB pension scheme investment  
strategy and trustee succession

Dealing with Covid-19
 – Being Covid-secure

 – Accessing financial support including 

CCFF and CJRS

Reorganising the shop estate and closing 
loss-makers

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Commentary by stakeholder 
Colleagues
The health and welfare of colleagues is of paramount 
importance, and at no time in recent history has that  
been more so than during the pandemic.

Perhaps the most significant decisions taken by the Board 
in the year related to dealing with our 20,000+ colleagues 
through the pandemic, keeping them as safe as we could 
when they were at work, and maintaining a level of income 
if they were furloughed. 

Customers 
Following the closure of our shops for three months during 
national lockdown, we did not know what to expect when 
we reopened in July with social distancing restricting 
normal customer behaviour. The health and safety of our 
colleagues and customers is of upmost importance and  
to this end, we were very careful not to promote Greggs  
in a way that would encourage customers not to adhere  
to guidelines and at one point, abandoned opening trials 
because of excess social media excitement.

Once we did reopen, it was under strict Covid-secure 
conditions, with full counter screening and risk assessed 
procedures for our colleagues. We utilised the space in our 
shops usually dedicated to marketing messages, such as 
our windows and digital screens, to clearly communicate 
the important safety messages in line with Government 
guidance. Customers were reminded about social 
distancing, the use of masks and sanitiser, promoting 
contactless payment and limiting customer numbers  
into shops. 

It soon became clear that although footfall from shopping 
and office working was significantly impacted there was  
a clear need for our services from our customers, the 
majority of whom do not work in offices and many classed 

68

Looking after our colleagues and customers  
to emerge from the crisis stronger than ever. 
As an ‘essential’ retailer, our shops were entitled to remain open and trade across the year. However, in the very 
early days of the pandemic, based on direct feedback, and social media sentiment it was clear to the Board that 
our colleagues and customers did not feel ‘safe’ going into our shops, given the warnings coming from 
government, and the strong ‘stay at home’ messaging. On 24 March 2020 the decision was taken to close all of  
our shops, and bakeries, apart from our Balliol savoury production facility and associated packing operation 
which supplies Iceland Foods.

At that time, there was no real indication of how long the pandemic might affect the business, and the decision 
was taken that those colleagues who were furloughed should be paid at 100 per cent of their salary, or their 
contracted hours as appropriate, until at least 1 July. After that date, the Board concluded that it was fair and 
reasonable to recognise the huge effort being put into responding to the pandemic initially by the few who were 
not furloughed, and subsequently by a growing number of colleagues as the shop and production estate started 
to reopen. As a result, furloughed colleagues were paid at 80 per cent of their salary or contracted hours for so 
long as they remained on furlough.

In the Balliol factory, which we kept open alongside our Iceland packing operation at Seaham, Covid-secure 
measures were developed to keep colleagues safe. Activities included maintaining social distance and changing 
working practices to achieve this, reducing numbers allowed in canteens, and creating one-way systems. As 
planning for reopening the shops was developed, perspex screens were introduced to protect colleagues and 
customers, sanitiser made available, and where space allowed one-way systems introduced. 

It was clear to the Board that, in the throes of the pandemic, with outcomes uncertain, it was critical that the 
impact of the pandemic on colleagues should be central to the Board’s thinking on how the business would 
emerge from the crisis in a stronger position for the future. 

as key workers. To give them the best possible service,  
we concentrated on providing their bestselling favourites. 

At the same time, we wanted to offer a service to 
customers who were able to stay at home and so kept our 
supply lines open for Iceland. In addition, our development 
teams worked quickly to rapidly roll out our Click + Collect 
and delivery services, exclusively with Just Eat.

During the months of closure, we did our best to maintain 
customer engagement with fun marketing initiatives which 
included helping customers create their Greggs favourites 
at home by sharing recipes for our most famous products 
and providing ‘how to’ guides and videos.

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GOVERNANCE REPORT CONTINUED

Suppliers
The decision to close shops at very short notice had  
a major impact on suppliers, because production sites 
were also shut down. Significant steps were taken by 
management to redirect supplies away from production 
sites, to minimise food waste, in the hope that supplies 
could be used elsewhere. Future orders were cancelled, 
but payment obligations were met where mitigation was 
not possible. The Board recognised the importance of 
maintaining future relationships with suppliers as part of 
the business’ recovery from the pandemic, and therefore 
every effort was made to help suppliers find new outlets 
for their supplies.

Engagement – The Board had a reduced level of 
engagement with suppliers in the year, but continued to 
receive reports on management’s activities in 
procurement, and on the impact on our own supply chain 
operations. Prior to the first lockdown, Peter McPhillips 
had accompanied our Commercial Director to a third-party 
bakery production centre, to understand the similarities 
and differences between that operation and our own. 

69

Shareholders
The Board has a regulatory obligation to inform 
shareholders of significant developments in its business, 
and the impact of the pandemic has required the Board  
to consider the impact on shareholders throughout. The 
biggest decision that the Board had to make in the year  
in relation to shareholders was to cancel the dividend  
that had been proposed with the Preliminary Results.  
On 23 March, the Board informed shareholders that 
regrettably no final dividend for 2019 would be paid, as the 
Board sought to preserve cash whilst it still had significant 
outgoings to meet, including to landlords, and the wages 
and salaries of those who continued to work. This was the 
first time since listing in 1984 that the Company had been 
unable to pay a dividend, and the Board recognised that 
this would have wide-ranging implications generally,  
both for institutional investors who manage various 
investments and pension schemes, but also for retail 
investors who rely on dividend income. The Board had 
clear line of sight to the cash flows needed to allow the 
business to survive, which would require accessing 
borrowing, and therefore the decision to preserve cash 
was on balance in the best interests of the Company.

Engagement – the Chief Executive and the Finance 
Director lead on engagement with shareholders in relation 
to business performance. This is done through roadshows 
following major announcements, and in 2020 those 
meetings were only done virtually. Additionally, across  
the year the Finance Director will speak with shareholders 
and prospective shareholders. 

In 2019 and into 2020, the Chair and Remuneration 
Committee Chair engaged with a number of our major 
shareholders ahead of the renewed remuneration policy 
resolution being tabled at the AGM in May. This was done  

so that any potential concerns from shareholders could be 
identified and addressed, and consequently 95.7 per cent 
of those shareholders who voted were in favour of 
approving the new policy.

Later in the year, the Chair and Remuneration Committee 
Chair consulted with a number of shareholders concerning 
the proposed implementation of the approved policy, in 
light of the impact on the business of Covid-19. The Board 
recognises the importance of regular and open 
communication with its shareholders.

Regrettably, the Board was not able to meet with the 80  
or 90 retail shareholders that regularly attend the AGM. 
Despite ongoing uncertainties, options are being developed 
for engaging with all shareholders in the coming months, and 
the hope is that there can be a return to normality in 2022. 

Lenders
For the first time since the mid-1990s, the Company 
needed to access significant levels of borrowing in order to 
ensure that it had sufficient cash to survive the pandemic. 
When the business largely closed down in March 2020, 
several workstreams sought to access sources of funds  
to meet cash requirements. These included government-
backed schemes, like the Covid Corporate Finance Facility, 
and the potential need to ask shareholders for support. 
The Company had already started to consider putting in 
place financing via a commercial banking partnership, and 
this project gained significant added impetus. The Board 
created a committee to support the Finance Director as he 
developed each of these options. Thankfully, the Company 
was successful in accessing the CCFF, and drew down 
sufficient funds to keep the company solvent even if shop 
closures lasted the remainder of the calendar year.

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GOVERNANCE REPORT CONTINUED

In December 2020, the CCFF moneys were repaid in full, 
and replaced with a Revolving Credit Facility with two 
commercial banks, Barclays and Lloyds.

Engagement – The Finance Director is primarily 
responsible for the relationship with providers of 
commercial lending. He and a small team participated in a 
selection process involving a number of potential lenders, 
and ultimately brought the final decision on participation 
to the Board for approval. Going forward, the Finance 
Director will undertake regular dialogue with lenders,  
and they will become a key part of the Company’s 
stakeholder population.

In the Board’s view, this brings a new stakeholder group 
into its future consideration, as the Board will now develop 
its relationship with those commercial banks.

Communities
Greggs has a long tradition of showing that it cares about  
a broad range of stakeholders, and extended reference 
can be found on pages 35, and 52-53 of this report. 

The Greggs Foundation is a beneficiary of at least one per 
cent of the Company’s annual profits, and the Board has 
had to consider the impact of 2020 on its ability to support 
the charitable activities of Greggs Foundation. In the face 
of increased demand for hardship and food poverty 
support, the Board felt it more important than ever to 
maintain its support for Greggs Foundation. 

This continued support enabled the Greggs Foundation  
to help families facing crisis as a result of the pandemic, 
through their hardship grant and emergency grant 
programmes and tackling holiday hunger programme. 
More can be found on pages 32-33.

70

The company has also made significant contributions to the 
communities in which it operates in other ways, including:

 – When we had to close our doors at the start of the 

national lockdown in March, we made it our mission to 
redistribute all unsold and surplus food to those in need 
and we maintained our partnerships with organisations 
that distribute food throughout 2020; 

 – Joined the National Business Response Network to 

really bolster our efforts in this area and support even 
more people; 

 – We organised deliveries of sweet treats and drinks to 
the NHS and key worker heroes as a small token of  
our gratitude; and

 – Encouraged colleagues on furlough to volunteer  

their time.

By order of the Board

Jonathan D Jowett
Company Secretary
Greggs plc (CRN 502851)

Greggs House
Quorum Business Park
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE12 8BU

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Audit Committee Report

Overall, I am satisfied that the activities of the Committee 
enable it to gain a good understanding of the key matters 
impacting the Company during the year along with 
oversight of the governance and operation of its key 
controls, and ultimately to draw the conclusions set out in 
the following report. I will be available at the AGM to answer 
any questions about our work.

Kate Ferry
Chair of the Audit Committee
16 March 2021

Dear shareholder

As Chairman of the Audit Committee,  
I am pleased to present the report of the 
Audit Committee for the 53 weeks ended  
2 January 2021.

The Committee plays an important part in the governance 
of the Company with its principal activities focused on the 
integrity of financial reporting, quality and effectiveness 
of internal and external audit, risk management and the 
system of internal control.

In this report, I aim to share some of the Committee’s 
discussions from the year, providing insight regarding the 
role of the Committee, the main matters considered by  
the Committee during the year and the conclusions drawn. 
The Committee meets formally at key times within the 
reporting calendar and the agendas for its meetings are 
designed to cover all significant areas of risk over the 
course of the year and to provide oversight and challenge 
to the key financial judgements, controls and processes 
that operate within the Company.

The Committee continues to keep its activities under 
review in the light of regulatory developments and the 
emergence of best practice. The Company has faced a 
number of accounting, reporting and risk-management 
challenges in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic 
and its impact on the business. The Committee has tried  
to ensure that its reporting on this is clear and allows  
users of the accounts to understand the impact on our 
performance, position and prospects. There is further 
detail on the most significant judgements made in the  
body of this report. 

As previously announced, the Committee conducted  
an audit tender during the year, as a result of which it 
recommended to the Board that RSM UK Audit LLP be 
appointed as auditor. The Board has accepted this 
recommendation and will propose the appointment of  
RSM UK Audit LLP at the forthcoming AGM. This report 
includes further details of the tender process. I would like 
to record my thanks to KPMG for their work as auditor to 
the Company for many years.

Key topics for consideration by the Committee in 2021  
will be the development of climate-related reporting in 
order that the Company is reporting in line with Task Force 
on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (‘TCFD’) 
requirements that come into force by 2022 along with 
continuing to ensure that the impacts of the ongoing 
pandemic are clearly reported and accounted for.

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Composition
The Audit Committee is comprised of the following:

Kate Ferry (Chair)
Helena Ganczakowski 
Peter McPhillips 
Sandra Turner 

It is the practice of the Company for all independent 
Non-Executive Directors to serve as members of the  
Audit Committee. 

Training is provided for any new members of the Audit 
Committee by way of a thorough induction process which 
includes access to the external auditor, the Head of 
Business Assurance and relevant members of 
management.

The Directors’ biographies on pages 54 to 56 detail  
the Committee members’ previous experience and 
demonstrate that they have experience individually in  
a range of disciplines relevant to Greggs’ business. The 
Board considers that Kate Ferry has recent and relevant 
financial experience.

Meetings during the year
The Audit Committee met four times during the year. 
Details of Committee members’ attendance are given  
on page 62.

The Committee normally invites the Company Chair, the 
Executive Directors, the Head of Business Assurance and 
the external auditor to attend its meetings. Time is set 
aside bi-annually for discussion with the external auditor 
and with the Head of Business Assurance, in each case  
in the absence of all Executive Directors. The Committee 
also has access to the Company’s management team and 
to its auditor and can seek further professional advice,  
at the Company’s cost, if required. The Chair has regular 
contact with the Finance Director, and internal and 
external auditors, in addition to scheduled Committee 
meetings to ensure that emerging issues are addressed. 
She also has access to an audit partner independent of  
the partner responsible for the audit.

Role and responsibilities
The Terms of Reference of the Committee can be 
accessed at: http://corporate.greggs.co.uk/investor-
centre/corporate-governance/Company-documents.
The key responsibilities of the Audit Committee are:
 – ensuring that the accounting and financial policies  

of the Company are proper and effective;
 – assisting the Board in fulfilling its oversight 

responsibilities by monitoring the integrity of the 
accounts and information published by the Company 
and reviewing significant financial judgements 
contained in them;

 – advising the Board on whether it believes the annual 

report and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced 
and understandable and provides the information 
necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s 
position and performance, business model and 
strategy;

 – reviewing the internal financial controls and the Group’s 

approach to risk management;

 – overseeing whistle-blowing arrangements;
 – monitoring compliance with the Listing Rules and the 

recommendations of the Governance Code;
 – overseeing the Company’s external and internal 

auditors and reviewing the effectiveness and objectivity 
of the audit process; and

 – reporting to the Board on how it has discharged its 

responsibilities.

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Financial reporting
In 2020 the Audit Committee reviewed the 2019 annual report, interim results, preliminary 
results announcement and reports from the external auditor on the outcome of their 
reviews and audits.

During the year, and up to the date of this report, the Committee considered key accounting 
issues and judgements and related disclosures in the Group’s accounts. The significant 
areas of judgement considered by the Committee in relation to the accounts for the  
53 weeks ended 2 January 2021 are as follows: 

Area of focus

Impairment of assets

Action taken

The Committee reviewed management’s assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the 
shop estate and concurred that it constitutes an impairment trigger and that all shops should be 
tested for impairment. It has reviewed the assumptions made and the resulting impairment 
charges and provision for onerous costs and dilapidations and has concluded that the principles 
and judgements applied were appropriate.

Property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment if events or 
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. When a review 
for impairment is conducted the recoverable amount is estimated based on either value-in-use 
calculations or fair value less costs of disposal. Both value-in-use and fair value less costs of 
disposal calculations require management to estimate future cash flows generated by the assets 
and an appropriate discount rate. Consideration is also given to whether the impairment 
assessments made in prior years remain appropriate based on the latest expectations in respect 
of recoverable amount. Where it is concluded that the impairment has reduced, a reversal of the 
impairment is recorded.

The Covid-19 crisis has meant that all shops have had periods of no, or reduced, sales during the 
period and the rate of recovery of sales is inherently uncertain. This is considered to be an 
impairment trigger and as a result all shops have been tested for impairment.

As a result of the crisis and following the shutdown period a decision was made not to reopen  
38 shops. All shop fittings and right-of-use assets for these shops have been fully impaired at  
a cost of £5.4 million. In addition, a provision of £2.5 million was made for onerous costs and 
dilapidations directly related to these closures which is expected to be utilised over the remaining 
term of these shop leases. The assumptions regarding the lease term in respect of these shops 
were reviewed and where required the lease liability was remeasured.

For the remainder of the estate, an impairment review was carried out using the assumptions  
set out in the basis of preparation on pages 123 and 124. As a result of this review an impairment 
provision of £8.6 million has been recognised in respect of shop fittings and right-of-use assets 
for a further 87 shops. The sensitivities of the assumptions on this amount are also set out on  
page 124.

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Area of focus

Accounting for leases

Action taken

IFRS 16 Leases became effective for 2019 and was adopted by the Group on 30 December 2018.  
As a result of this, lease liabilities, representing the obligation to make lease payments, are 
recognised on the balance sheet together with corresponding right-of-use assets. In the income 
statement rent costs were replaced by a straight-line depreciation charge on each right-of-use 
asset and an interest charge that reduces over the lease term.

At the end of 2020 the Group has recognised right-of-use assets of £270.2 million  
(2019: £272.7 million) and lease liabilities totalling £291.7 million (2019: £275.7 million).  
Charges to the income statement of £51.9 million (2019: £50.8 million) in respect of depreciation 
and £6.5 million (2019: £6.6 million) in respect of interest were recognised.

Understanding and treatment of exceptional items

The accounts include exceptional items in the current year. 

Total exceptional costs of £0.8 million were incurred in 2020 (2019: £5.9 million).

This relates to the restructuring of supply chain operations and in both the current and prior year 
comprises mainly the one-off costs associated with the transfer of activity between sites as we 
consolidate our manufacturing operations into centres of excellence – a full breakdown for both 
years is given in Note 4 to the accounts.

The Committee continues to review and monitor developments in this area to ensure that 
judgements made are up to date and remain valid and that the approach adopted is still 
appropriate to the Group’s circumstances.

The Committee considers that the judgements made are appropriate to the Group’s particular 
circumstances.

The Committee considered the accounting requirements of IAS 1 relating to the separate 
disclosure of material items of income or expense together with the FRC’s guidance on the 
subject, with reference to:

i.  the costs arising from the decision, announced in March 2016, to invest in and reshape the 

Company’s supply chain in order to support future growth;

ii.  the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on activity and financial performance in 2020; and

iii.  the provision of £7.0 million in 2019 for the special ‘thank you’ payment made to colleagues in 

January 2020.

The Committee ensured that consistent principles were established (and agreed with the external 
auditor) early in the process and that reporting is suitably clear. The Committee gave careful 
consideration to the judgements made in the separate disclosure of non-underlying items, both  
in respect of events occurring in 2020 and also changes in circumstance in respect of provisions 
relating to events from prior years, ensuring that the annual report as a whole presents a balanced 
view, including the presentation of GAAP and non-GAAP measures.

It concluded that separate disclosure should not be made in the income statement of any of the 
impacts of Covid-19 in 2020. The strategic report and financial review describe these in some 
detail and the Committee considers that disclosures throughout this annual report allow users  
to understand the impact on the Company’s position and financial performance.

In applying a consistent approach to separate disclosure of exceptional items the Committee 
concluded that separate disclosure be made of charges incurred in 2020 related to the supply 
chain investment programme but not the charges in 2019 related to the ‘thank you’ payment to 
colleagues. The supply chain investment programme is now largely complete and it is unlikely that 
any remaining costs associated with it will be sufficiently material to be separately classified.

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Area of focus

Accounting for defined benefit pension schemes

The determination of the defined benefit obligation depends on the selection of certain 
assumptions including the discount rate, inflation rates and mortality rates.

The net liability held in relation to defined benefit pension schemes at the end of 2020 was  
£11.9 million (2019: £0.6 million). 

Fair, balanced and understandable

The Committee is responsible for advising the Board on whether it believes the annual report  
and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable.

Going concern

The accounts continue to be prepared on a going concern basis.

Action taken

Pension scheme liabilities are assessed on behalf of the Company by independent actuaries.  
The Committee assessed the underlying assumptions and concluded that they were appropriate 
and also discussed the appropriateness of the assumptions with the external auditor.

The Committee received a report from the Head of Business Assurance who is not involved in the 
preparation of the annual report and accounts and who conducted an independent review of it. 
The following factors were considered during the course of this review:

 – ensuring that all the statements are consistent with one another;

 –

 –

verifying that figures in the narrative sections are consistent with the relevant financial detail;

identifying any duplication of information;

 – ensuring that the disclosure of non-underlying items is balanced;

 – confirming that ‘bad news’ is included, as well as ‘good news’; and

 – highlighting any inappropriate use of technical language or jargon

The Audit Committee considered the feedback from this report alongside its own review of  
the annual report and accounts when making its recommendation to the Board regarding fair, 
balanced and understandable.

Information provided by the Finance Director regarding future financial plans, risks and liquidity 
was presented to the Committee to enable it to determine whether the going concern basis of 
accounting remained appropriate.

In light of the impact of social distancing and lockdown measures a particularly cautious view  
of trading conditions was used, along with plausible downside scenarios.

The Committee reviewed and challenged the assumptions used and concluded that the Board  
is able to make the going concern statement on page 66 of the Directors’ report.

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Area of focus

Viability

Action taken

The Board is required to consider the period over which it is able to conclude that the Company  
will remain viable, having taken into account severe but plausible risks and risk combinations.

The Committee reviewed the process undertaken by management to support and allow the 
Directors to assess the Group’s long-term prospects and make its viability statement. The 
Committee considered and provided input into the determination of which of the Group’s principal 
risks and combinations thereof might have an impact on the Group’s liquidity and solvency.

The Committee reviewed the results of management’s scenario modelling and the stress testing  
of these models. The Committee reviewed and challenged the assumptions used and concluded  
that the Board is able to make the viability statement on page 46 of the strategic report.

The Committee also considered other key accounting issues 
and related disclosures in the Group’s accounts as follows: 

process with particular reference to audit planning, design 
and execution of a remotely-conducted audit.

practice, in particular ensuring the independence of 
potential audit firms. 

 – whether any changes in accounting policy were required 

following changes in the business or in legislation;
 – whether the Company’s tax policy remains appropriate;
 – the impact of changes in accounting standards and their 

relevance, if any, to the Company; and

 – reports from the Company Secretary and Finance 

Director which assess the Company’s compliance with 
the Listing Rules.

External audit
Assessing external audit effectiveness
The Audit Committee discussed and agreed the scope of 
the audit with the external auditor and agreed their fees  
in respect of the audit. An increase in the audit fee was 
agreed in order to reflect the additional work required  
as a result of trading conditions in 2020.

The Committee reviewed the effectiveness of the external 
audit in line with the Financial Reporting Council’s ‘Practice 
aid for audit committees’ (December 2019). It considered the 
results of external quality inspections by the Audit Quality 
Inspection Team on other KPMG clients. It sought feedback 
from senior management, by way of a detailed 
questionnaire, in respect of the effectiveness of the audit 

The Committee also considered the effectiveness of the 
audit through the reporting from and communications with 
the auditor and an assessment of the auditor’s approach to 
key areas of judgement and any errors identified during the 
course of the audit. 

The Committee concluded that the audit was effective  
and that the relationship and effectiveness of the external 
auditor be kept under review. 

Appointing the auditor and safeguards on non-audit 
services 
The Committee’s policy on auditor appointment is to 
consider annually whether to conduct an audit tender for 
audit quality or independence reasons. KPMG has been  
the Company’s auditor for more than 20 years. In order  
to comply with the Statutory Audit Services for Large 
Companies Market Investigation (Mandatory use of 
Competitive Tender Process and Audit Committee 
Responsibilities) Order 2014 the Company is required to 
change audit firms no later than the conclusion of the 2020 
audit. During 2020 the Audit Committee has conducted a 
full tender exercise for the appointment of a new auditor,  
in compliance with legislation and FRC guidance on best 

A range of firms were approached, including the ‘big four’ 
(other than KPMG) and mid-tier firms, and invited to express 
their interest. Interested firms were subsequently 
requested to complete a detailed Request For Proposal 
(‘RFP’) and the Committee shortlisted firms to be considered 
in a full tender process. During the tender process, which of 
necessity was conducted entirely remotely, each shortlisted 
firm was invited to meet with the Audit Committee Chair, 
Chief Executive, Finance Director and members of senior 
and operational management. Following these meetings, 
formal tender documents were submitted and each firm 
presented their proposals. The firms were judged against 
objective criteria that had been determined in advance of 
the process and shared with the firms at that point.

Whilst it appreciated the quality of all proposals submitted 
by the shortlisted firms, the Audit Committee considered 
that the submission and team from RSM UK Audit LLP 
(RSM) better met the predefined criteria it had set. It  
has therefore recommended to the Board that RSM be 
appointed as auditor, subject to shareholder approval,  
for the 2021 financial year onwards. The Board was happy 
to accept this recommendation and intends to propose 
RSM’s appointment at the AGM to be held in May 2021.

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The Audit Committee receives an update on risk 
management at each of its meetings. This is supplemented 
with a more detailed review of the process on an annual 
basis. In addition, an annual risk report presents a 
summary of key activities, including recording any new and 
emerging risks. This process allows the Committee to fulfil 
its accountability for overseeing the effectiveness of risk 
management, and confirming that arrangements are 
appropriate. 

The risk-management process is explained in more detail 
on page 45. 

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT CONTINUED

It is the responsibility of the Committee to monitor the 
independence and objectivity of the external auditor 
(including the impact of any non-audit work undertaken  
by it) and its suitability for reappointment. 

In 2020, non-audit fees paid to KPMG LLP and related KPMG 
operations amounted to £15,000 (which is 7.7 per cent of 
the audit fee for the year) and related to the audit of 
turnover statements required by shop landlords. 

The Company has a formal policy to ensure that the 
provision of non-audit services by the external auditor  
for non-audit work does not compromise the auditor’s 
independence or objectivity. It monitors the level and type 
of non-audit fees on an annual basis and ensures that the 
overall level of non-audit fees remains in line with current 
ethical guidance governing the accounting profession.

The Audit Committee favours a presumption that non-audit 
work will be awarded to a firm other than the audit firm 
unless there is a good reason to use the auditor. An annual 
base plan for non-audit fees paid to the external auditor is 
agreed in advance by the Audit Committee. Expenditure in 
accordance with this plan can then be committed without 
further referral to the Audit Committee. Expenditure that is 
not included in the agreed plan is subject to strict authority 
limits and is reviewed by the Committee.

All use of the external auditor for non-audit work must  
be reported to and approved by the Committee. In 
circumstances where non-audit fees are significant 
relative to the audit fee an explanation would be provided 
in the subsequent Audit Committee Report. In addition,  
the Audit Committee ensures that the external auditor has 
its own policies and is subject to professional standards 
designed to safeguard their independence as auditor.

The Audit Committee has reviewed whether, and is 
satisfied that, the Company’s current auditor, KPMG LLP, 
continues to be objective and independent of the Company. 
KPMG LLP did perform non-audit services during 2020 for 
the Group but the Audit Committee is satisfied that its 
objectivity was not impaired by such work.

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Appointment of auditor 
In accordance with Section 489 of the Companies Act 2006, 
a resolution for the appointment of RSM UK Audit LLP will 
be proposed at the forthcoming AGM.

Risk management and internal control
Internal Control
The Audit Committee receives updates from Business 
Assurance on the internal control environment at each 
meeting, both from a risk and an internal audit perspective. 
This regular reporting ensures timely review of any key 
issues. Internal audits concluding only limited assurance 
are considered in greater detail, allowing Committee 
members the opportunity to satisfy themselves that 
suitable actions have been taken or are in progress to 
comply with recommendations.

Whistle-blowing
The Company’s whistle-blowing policy is available to all 
colleagues via the intranet, as well as via posters displayed 
across the business. This gives information regarding how 
to raise a concern in strict confidence. No significant 
disclosures were made during the year, though four 
concerns were reported, all relating to staff behaviour 
in shops and production sites. All events were reported 
directly to the Chair of the Audit Committee. All instances 
have been investigated and appropriate action taken to 
resolve the concerns satisfactorily.

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Key areas subject to specific review by the Committee 
include the following:

Area of focus 

Action taken

Financial reporting

Tax compliance

Task Force on Climate-
related Financial  
Disclosures (TCFD)

External auditor 
appointment

Cyber risk and  
information security

All judgemental areas in the accounts are considered by the Committee, to provide challenge to the process. 
The impact of Covid-19 has driven a focus on the approach to impairments and other provisions, IFRS16 
implications, IAS20 (accounting for government grants and disclosure of assistance), and exceptional  
costs in particular. 

An update on the Company’s tax compliance was presented to the Committee, which was satisfied with the 
approach being taken.

The Committee considered and confirmed the proposed approach to adopting TCFD requirements. 

The Committee has approved the appointment of a new external auditor, having been involved at all stages 
of the tender and selection process.

Cyber risk and information security is considered at every Audit Committee meeting, with the Head of 
Business Assurance providing an update on activity. This allows the Committee to satisfy itself as to the 
adequacy of arrangements.

New and emerging risks

New and emerging risks are considered by members of the Risk Committee at each of its meetings.  
Where appropriate, these are included in the strategic risk register. 

Any significant matters are escalated to the Audit Committee for further discussion.

Any other areas which Committee members believe should be recorded in the risk register are highlighted 
and discussed within the course of regular meetings.

Review of principal risks  
and uncertainties

The Risk Committee discussed the key risks faced by the business and used this to inform its preparation  
of the statement of principal risks and uncertainties. This in turn was considered by the Audit Committee 
after the year end, and approved for inclusion in this report, on pages 45 to 50. 

Viability and going  
concern status

As part of the annual report review, the Committee has considered the viability statement and agreed the 
various scenarios modelled in support of this assessment.

The Company’s adoption of a going concern basis for accounts preparation was reviewed at the mid-year,  
as well as during the consideration of the annual report.

Internal audit function

The Committee has reviewed the work and output of the internal audit function, and concluded as to its 
effectiveness.

Internal audit
The work of the internal audit function is set out in more 
detail within the principal risks and uncertainties 
statement on pages 45 to 50 of this annual report. The 
team is led by the Head of Business Assurance, supported 
by 16 auditors, along with the Data Protection Analyst.  
The majority of the audit resource is dedicated to the retail 
estate, providing the Audit Committee with assurance that 
the required controls for safe operation in the Company’s 
shops are in place and operating effectively. 

The Business Assurance team presents an annual plan  
to the Audit Committee for approval, setting out how the 
resource will be allocated across the business. Progress 
against this plan is monitored at subsequent meetings 
throughout the year. The effectiveness of the team and  
its level of resource are reviewed by the Committee at 
least annually, including a consideration of outputs,  
and customer feedback received. 

Committee effectiveness
Each year the Committee reviews critically its own 
performance, assisted by consideration of a series of 
questions, and considers where improvements can be made.

Kate Ferry
Chair of the Audit Committee
16 March 2021

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Directors’ Remuneration 
Report

Dear Shareholders

On behalf of the Remuneration Committee (the “Committee”),  
I am pleased to present our Directors’ remuneration report for 2020 
and my first as Chair of the Remuneration Committee. 

In what has been an unprecedented year for the business our focus has been to continue 
our transparent and open approach to remuneration at Greggs, taking into account the 
experience of our colleagues, shareholders and wider stakeholders during the year. We 
have kept our report clear, simple and easy to read, providing explanations and rationale  
to our decision-making throughout the report and in particular in response to the impact  
of Covid-19 on the business. 

The report is made up of three key sections:

 – My annual Chair’s letter;
 – Our three-year remuneration policy report, which sets out a summary of the Directors’ 

remuneration policy. This policy was formally agreed at our AGM held on 13 May 2020; and 

 – Our annual remuneration report, split into sections that set out:

A.  How our policy links to strategy and reward across the wider workforce
B.  Remuneration Committee activity for the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021
C.  How Directors’ remuneration will be implemented in 2021 in line with the approved 

policy; and

D.  How our remuneration policy was implemented in 2020. This is an audited section of 
the report outlining the remuneration of the Executive and Non-Executive Directors 
during the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021. 

79

The annual remuneration report, together with this Chair’s Statement, will be subject to an 
advisory shareholder vote at the 2021 AGM.

Remuneration policy 
Our remuneration policy consists of the following elements:

 – fixed pay – base salary, pension and benefits; and 
 – variable pay – annual bonus (paid in both cash and deferred shares) and performance 

share plan (‘PSP’) measuring long-term performance and delivered in shares.

The Committee believes that this structure has served us well and its flexibility means that 
it will continue to work well, despite the Covid-19 related impact on the business and the 
shape of the business coming out of the pandemic. It is simple and consistent, with pay 
outcomes dependent upon performance linked to our business strategy and recovery 
plans as well as taking into account our wider workforce remuneration and specific  
Greggs culture. It ensures a significant proportion of pay is delivered in shares to provide 
alignment with investors and incorporates other best practice features in line with the  
UK Corporate Governance Code and investor guidelines. 

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Actions taken in 2020 in response to Covid-19
Unfortunately, as with the wider economy and society, this year’s financial results have 
been severely impacted by Covid-19. The Chairman’s Statement and the Chief Executive’s 
Report explain the impact of the pandemic on our business and its financial consequences, 
as well as the details behind the closure of our shops and the impact of local lockdowns. 

Sadly, ongoing lockdown constraints resulted in 820 redundancies in September – these 
were minimised through consultation with our colleagues and reducing hours to mitigate 
job losses where possible. Weekly website updates were provided to ensure colleagues 
were kept fully informed on business information and guidance was provided to assist 
them with their wellbeing and enable them to access support through both the business 
and the Greggs Foundation. 

This is in stark contrast to the exceptional performance of the business and stakeholder 
experience right up to the onset of the pandemic. 2019 delivered record-breaking results 
and share price performance; shareholders received a special dividend and our colleagues 
contribution to success was recognised with a £7 million thank-you payment in January 
2020 in addition to the annual profit share they received in March. We understand how 
challenging the change in circumstances in this past year has been for our teams, as well 
as our external stakeholders, and we appreciate their flexibility and continued commitment 
as we have managed our way through these difficult times. 

The Remuneration Committee responded quickly to react to the impact of the pandemic  
on the business and applied its customary approach of acting with restraint with regards  
to Executive remuneration during these challenging times. Management salary increases 
were cancelled, the Board and senior executive team took a voluntary five-month pay cut, 
and planned increases to annual bonus and Performance Share Plan (‘PSP’) award levels 
were postponed. We are also very mindful that our shareholders were impacted with the 
decision to suspend dividends in 2020. 

Once the decision was taken to close all our shops in March, the vast majority of our wider 
workforce was furloughed. A very small number of people were retained for the day-to-day 
management of the business and strategic long-term projects, and for two of our supply 
sites which were required for our wholesale operation. The Board was very focused on 
ensuring that all colleagues were supported in line with Greggs core culture and values  
and that, in partnership with the Government Job Retention Scheme, the earnings of our 
lowest-paid colleagues were protected for as long as possible. Full contract hours were 
paid from the date at which our shops and supply sites closed due to lockdown (week 
commencing 23 March) until 1 July, with furlough pay being topped up to 100 per cent.  
As of 1 July, all colleagues on furlough were paid 80 per cent of their contract hours or 
80 per cent of their average pay, whichever was higher. Across the whole period of furlough 
the government cap on earnings was not applied. 

The business received government support in the form of the Job Retention Scheme,  
and debt financing to support its short-term liquidity requirements which included a  
CCFF loan from the Bank of England (subsequently repaid in December 2020). All payments 
to landlords were fulfilled and local communities and colleagues were supported through 
the Greggs Foundation with the provision of hardship relief grants and the offer of 
additional help, including food donations to help hard hit community organisations. 

Salaries and fees in 2020
The Board took time to review the approach for the wider workforce, as detailed above,  
as context for decisions on Directors’ salaries and fees in 2020. Whilst the pay awards for 
our wider workforce continued to be implemented in 2020, the planned annual pay award of 
three per cent for Board members (both Executive and Non-Executive Directors) as well as 
the wider management population was cancelled for 2020 with salaries and fees remaining 
at 2019 levels. The salary of the Finance Director, which had increased from £323,100 to 
£351,550 as of 1 January 2020 as part of a two-stage increase (as previously consulted 
upon) was reduced by three per cent to £341,003 on 1 April 2020, to align with the 
cancellation of the annual increase for Directors. This reduction was backdated to 
1 January 2020. 

Furthermore, as of 1 April 2020, all Executive Directors, the Chairman, Non-Executive Directors 
and the Operating Board agreed to a voluntary 20 per cent reduction in salary/fee which 
remained in place until 31 August 2020 when the payment of normal salary/fee resumed. 

Bonus 2020
The Committee took the decision not to adjust the targets for the Company’s annual bonus 
plan and the existing bonus metrics were retained. The planned increase in annual bonus 
opportunity for the Finance Director (from 90 per cent to 100 per cent of base salary) was 
delayed for a year until 2021. The Chief Executive’s bonus opportunity for 2020 remained  
at 125 per cent of salary (which represented no increase over prior year).

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As a direct result of the impact of the pandemic, the financial targets in the 2019 bonus 
scheme were not met. The strategic targets were met in part, reflecting the tremendous 
efforts of management to continue to progress the strategic agenda alongside the day-to-
day challenges of Covid-19. This amounted to a potential payout of 15 per cent, but following  
a full review and in light of the financial outcome, the Committee used its discretion to  
adjust the formula-driven outturn and therefore no bonus will be paid for 2020.

Performance Share Plan 
Outturn for the 2018-2020 PSP award
The three-year performance period for the PSP award made in March 2018 and due to  
vest in March 2021 ended on 2 January 2021. The Committee made no adjustments to the 
targets and despite strong performance in 2018 and a record-breaking year in 2019, the 
impact of Covid-19 on the business in 2020 meant that for both ROCE and EPS the threshold 
performance level was not achieved. 

The Committee conducted an in-depth consultation exercise with our largest shareholders 
on the potential exercise of Committee discretion to permit some of this award to vest, in  
the light of the exceptional performance of the business up to the onset of the pandemic and 
the very strong shareholder value created over the full three-year period (even taking into 
account the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the final year of the performance period). 
However, after considering all the feedback received, the Committee concluded that it  
would not use discretion to change the formula-driven outcome and so the award lapsed. 

I would like to thank shareholders for their support with this consultation and for their very 
positive feedback with respect to the performance of the management team. 

2019-2021 award
The 2019-2021 award outcome is also likely to be severely impacted by Covid-19. The 
Committee are not planning to make any adjustments to the targets for this plan and at this 
stage it is unlikely that threshold performance for EPS and ROCE will be achieved. 

81

2020-2022 award
The 2020-2022 PSP award was originally due to be granted in May 2020 under the terms set  
out in last year’s Directors’ remuneration report. However, with the onset of the pandemic,  
the uncertainty regarding future strategy and performance made it very difficult to ensure  
that management was appropriately incentivised to deliver a robust and effective business 
recovery plan. Therefore, after consultation with major shareholders, a decision was made to 
postpone the 2020 PSP award until after the Board had concluded its three-year recovery plan. 

The PSP was subsequently awarded in October 2020, with a robust set of performance 
measures and target ranges to complement the recovery strategy and link to the 
performance outlook for the business. 

The financial metrics of EPS and ROCE were retained with an allocation of 25 per cent of the 
PSP grant attributed to each of these metrics. The EPS and ROCE target ranges were set so as 
to be appropriately challenging at the time the awards were granted in October 2020. The range 
was set at an intentionally wide level recognising the significant variance in likely performance 
outcomes over the performance period. The context at the time they were set was that 
Covid-19 rates were rising, the country was at the onset of a second wave of the pandemic 
and entering a second national lockdown, and there was no defined view on the timings of a 
vaccine rollout programme. This was a period of very significant uncertainty for the business. 

The remaining 50 per cent was based equally on two strategic initiatives considered 
essential to help reshape the business for the post-pandemic market.The first was based 
on the implementation of a centralised digital app, with targets based on a significant 
increase in active user numbers. The second was based on growth of our new delivery 
model, with targets set on a sliding scale focused on sales growth. 

At the time the award was granted in October 2020 the target ranges for all four metrics 
were considered by the Committee to be commercially sensitive and so we were not able  
to disclose them to shareholders at that time. 

When considering the quantum of the award level, the Committee recognised some 
short-term weakness in the share price. Accordingly, the Committee scaled back the 
award levels for the Chief Executive and Finance Director reducing them from those set  
out in the last Directors’ remuneration report (150 per cent and 110 per cent of salary 
respectively) to 115 per cent and 95 per cent of salary, respectively. Effectively, this delayed 
to 2021 the increases to PSP awards that had been agreed in the remuneration policy, as 
approved by shareholders at the 2020 AGM. 

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In March 2021, the Committee reviewed all the targets and following the significant 
consultation with investors and overall feedback over the last 12 months, agreed to remain 
consistent in their approach of not adjusting the targets for these, or any other in-flight 
PSP awards. Whilst the range is wide and we are now in a period of slight increased 
positivity, the Committee believes this is due in part to the considerable work and 
commitment of the management team who have worked exceptionally hard not only to 
navigate the period of the last six months, but to continue to ensure we drive business 
growth and sustainability and to quickly reposition the busines for the future. 

On vesting of the award, in light of the extraordinary circumstances, the Committee will 
take a further, full review of business performance and quality of results to ensure this  
has been maintained consistently over the performance period and make the appropriate 
decision with regards to the vesting of this award. 

Full details of the EPS and ROCE ranges are contained in this report.The targets relating to 
strategic initiatives were also reviewed and the Committee determined that they continued 
to be pitched appropriately. These target ranges continue to remain commercially 
sensitive at the present time, as they relate to the details of our digital strategy and delivery 
model. However, we will be in a position to disclose these following the end of the 
performance period.

Approach for 2021 
In delivering the three-year recovery plan for the business, it is vital that there continues  
to be a sustained focus on the strategic direction, recovery and future growth of the 
business. Whilst we continue to act with restraint in remuneration matters, it is important 
that we set incentive plans that strike the right balance between achievability and stretch, 
driving the right decisions for the business, supporting the wider workforce and 
shareholders, whilst at the same time motivating and enabling the retention and 
recruitment of senior talent. 

Salaries and fees 
With effect from 1 January 2021, the Committee agreed a salary increase of 1.7 per cent  
for the Chief Executive, in line with the base increase for the workforce generally.  
A consistent approach was taken by the Board in relation to both the Chair and  
Non-Executive Directors’ fees.

82

Following full consideration of the current circumstances, the Remuneration Committee has 
applied the proposed ‘second stage’ salary increase for the Finance Director, to £380,000 
effective from 1 January 2021. This increase is in line with the approach as set out in the 
Directors’ remuneration report last year and applying this increase still leaves his salary  
and total pay below mid-market pay levels when compared to companies of similar size and 
scope to Greggs. 

Annual bonus 
The maximum bonus opportunity for the Chief Executive will remain at 125 per cent of salary 
with the Finance Director increasing from 90 per cent to 100 per cent of salary. This increase 
was originally due to be implemented in 2020, having been approved by shareholders as part 
of the new policy, but was delayed in light of the impact of the pandemic. 

The Committee believes that the current measures – profit (50 per cent), sales (20 per cent) 
and strategic objectives (30 per cent) remain appropriate and no changes are proposed  
to this weighting. The strategic objectives will comprise three separate elements with  
ten per cent based on business efficiency/cost savings, ten per cent based on sustainability 
targets and ten per cent based on food waste targets.

Financial targets for these measures for the 2021 bonus will be set in line with the financial 
plan for the business for the year and the rolling strategic plan and will continue to be 
stretching. Due to the commercial sensitivity of the 2021 bonus targets they are not 
disclosed within this report, but will be disclosed retrospectively in next year’s report. 

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PSP 
For the 2021 PSP, as per the remuneration policy and having consulted with shareholders in 
2019, the award level for the Chief Executive will increase to 150 per cent of salary with the 
Finance Director award increasing to 125 per cent of salary. These increases were originally 
due to be implemented across 2020 and 2021, having been approved by shareholders as part 
of the new policy, but were delayed in light of the impact of the pandemic. 

The Committee has considered the performance conditions and has determined that, with 
better visibility as to the Company’s financial performance, the performance conditions 
should revert to just EPS and ROCE, with an equal weighting given to each. We have set 
appropriately stretching performance targets for each measure reflecting the strategic 
plan and business outlook over the performance period. Full details of the targets are set 
out later in this report, but both represent a significant increase on the 2020 PSP targets.

Shareholder engagement 
Throughout 2020 we have engaged with shareholders and proxy agencies to receive  
their feedback on a number of policy matters including the new remuneration policy,  
the package for our Finance Director, the impact of Covid-19 and the response of the 
Committee to it, as well as exploring the vesting of the 2018 PSP award. These discussions 
and views have supported the Committee in shaping their thinking on remuneration policy 
and practice. The Committee would like to thank our shareholders and proxy agencies for 
their time and support through 2020. We welcome all feedback from our shareholders as 
their views help us inform our thinking on remuneration matters and in particular when 
evaluating and setting the remuneration strategy. 

The Committee is committed to continue consulting with key shareholders and we hope  
we can rely on your ongoing support. 

I hope that you will find this report transparent, clear and informative. The Committee 
has remained focused on ensuring that Executive remuneration is closely aligned to the 
delivery of Greggs business strategy whilst taking account of stakeholder experience,  
best practice and the impact of Covid-19 on the business.

Finally, I am grateful for the support I have received from my predecessor, Sandra Turner, 
the Committee and the rest of the Board as we have dealt with the significant 
remuneration-related challenges that faced the business this year. 

I look forward to receiving your support at this year’s AGM with regards to the annual report 
on remuneration. If you would like to contact me directly to discuss any aspect of this 
report then please email me at investorrelations@greggs.co.uk.

Yours faithfully 

Dr. Helena Ganczakowski
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
16 March 2021

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Remuneration policy report 
This section of our report is a summary of the remuneration policy for all Executive and 
Non-Executive Directors at Greggs. It explains the purpose and strategy of each element  
of the package and demonstrates how the policy will incentivise Executive Directors to 
achieve sustainable long-term growth and value to best serve the interests of the 
Company, its shareholders, its colleagues and other stakeholders.

Element 

Purpose and strategy 

Operation

Benefits

To support a 
competitive 
remuneration 
package in the 
marketplace.

Benefits include provision of a company 
car (or cash in lieu), private medical health 
care, life assurance and permanent 
health insurance.

The current Directors’ remuneration policy was approved by shareholders at our AGM on 
13 May 2020 and became effective for three years from that date. There are no proposed 
changes to this policy in 2021. 

The policy for the remuneration of the Executive and Non-Executive Directors is set out 
in the tables below:

Pension 

Executive Directors

Element 

Purpose and strategy 

Operation

Base salary

To attract and 
retain high-calibre 
individuals in order 
to promote the 
long-term success 
of the business.

Reviewed and set annually in January.

Benchmarked periodically by the 
Committee against the remuneration 
levels for executives in similar roles in 
companies of a comparable size. 
Individual performance and contribution 
are recognised in setting salary levels.

Salaries are paid monthly in cash.

Maximum opportunity

No maximum limit  
is prescribed. Key 
reference points  
for salary increases 
are market and 
economic conditions 
and, in line with our 
values, the approach 
to colleague pay 
throughout the 
organisation.

To support a 
competitive 
remuneration 
package in the 
marketplace and 
ensure that pension 
contributions are 
aligned to the rate 
applying to the 
majority of the 
workforce over 
time.

Executive Directors can elect to either:

 – participate in the Company defined 
contribution pension scheme (up to  
a cap). Above the cap Executive 
Directors receive a salary supplement; 
or

 –

take cash in lieu of this contribution 
paid as a supplement to their salary  
on a monthly basis.

 – The Executive Directors are able to 
make this choice on an annual basis.

 – All current Executive Directors will 
have their pension contributions 
reduced over five years, commencing 
in the financial year 2021. The 
reduction will be in equal proportions 
until their contribution rate matches 
that of the majority of the workforce.

Maximum opportunity

No maximum limit  
is prescribed, 
particularly as the 
cost of providing 
insured benefits 
fluctuates over time. 
However, the 
Committee monitors 
on an annual basis 
the overall cost of 
the benefit 
provision. 

Up to 22.5% of base 
salary contribution 
for the current Chief 
Executive and up to 
15% of base salary 
for other Executive 
Directors, but 
reducing to the 
percentage pension 
contribution of the 
majority of the 
workforce over time.

All new Executive 
Directors will have 
their pension 
contribution aligned 
to the rate applying 
to the majority of the 
workforce.

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Element 

Purpose and strategy 

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Element 

Purpose and strategy 

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Annual bonus 
(including 
profit share)

To incentivise 
achievement of 
annual targets  
and objectives 
consistent with the 
short to medium-
term strategic 
needs of the 
business, so as to 
encourage 
sustainable growth 
in the Company’s 
operating profits.

Capped at 150% of 
base salary for the 
Chief Executive and 
125% of base salary 
for other Executive 
Directors.

On target 
performance 
delivers no more 
than 50% of the 
maximum.

No more than  
25% of the bonus 
opportunity is 
payable under  
each element  
for threshold 
performance.

The bonus will be based on a mix of 
business KPIs, with operating profit  
being the largest component of the  
mix of metrics and this will not be less 
than 50% of the overall mix.

Targets for each metric are set in advance 
and in line with business planning 
objectives set by the Committee.

Each Executive Director is entitled to 
participate in the Company’s profit-
sharing scheme available to all 
colleagues. The value of this is then 
deducted from their annual bonus  
and is subject to the individual cap.

The Committee will use appropriate 
underpins for any non-profit based 
element of the annual bonus such that 
payment under these elements may be 
scaled back (potentially to zero), at the 
discretion of the Committee, if the 
operating profit performance for the year 
is judged to be running significantly below 
that required for the achievement of the 
long-term strategy.

The Committee will be able to adjust  
the formula-driven outcome from any 
bonus plan if, in the judgement of the 
Committee, this does not reflect  
broader Company performance or the 
shareholder experience, or the payment 
level is otherwise inappropriate.

Annual bonus 
(including 
profit share) 
continued

Performance 
Share Plan 
(‘PSP’) 

To incentivise 
long-term value 
creation, retention 
of our talent and 
ensure alignment of 
Executive Directors’ 
and shareholders’ 
interests.

Any bonus paid in excess of 50% of the 
maximum will be payable in shares, which 
(after any sales to pay tax and other 
statutory deductions) must be held in the 
Employee Benefit Trust for two years 
after receipt.

The dividends payable on deferred bonus 
shares are paid to the individual as they 
fall due.

Recovery and withholding provisions 
allow the Company to recoup annual 
bonus payments within three years in the 
event of misstatement of performance, 
error, misconduct, reputational damage 
or corporate failure where this has led to 
an overpayment in the view of the 
Committee. There is a flexible mechanism 
which allows the Company to withhold 
outstanding deferred or future 
remuneration or recover the 
overpayment direct from the individual 
concerned.

Awards are granted under the PSP 
annually at the discretion of the 
Committee.

Performance conditions will be based on 
appropriate financial measures with 
targets being set for each metric which 
reflect the strategic plan and business 
outlook over the respective performance 
period. Performance will be measured 
over a three-year period with an 
additional mandatory holding period  
of two years for the vested shares  
(net of tax and other deductions).

150% of base salary 
for Chief Executive 
and 125% of base 
salary for other 
Executive Directors 
(150% of base salary 
in exceptional 
circumstances).

Threshold vesting  
at 25% of the 
maximum.

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DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Element 

Purpose and strategy 

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Element 

Purpose and strategy 

Operation

Share 
retention 
guidelines 

To further align  
the interests of 
Executive Directors 
to those of 
shareholders.

Executive Directors are required to build 
up a shareholding of 200% of base salary. 
Where an Executive Director has not 
reached the required level, 50% of the 
shares vesting from incentive schemes 
must be held until this requirement has 
been met. 

This is achieved through vested awards 
granted via the PSP and deferred  
bonus shares.

For any new Executive Directors 
appointed following approval of this 
policy there will be a two-year post-
employment holding requirement at the 
lower of the level of the shareholding 
guideline immediately prior to departure 
or the actual shareholding at departure.

A PSP award holder will be entitled to a 
dividend equivalent payment in respect  
of any vested shares.

The Committee will be able to adjust the 
formula-driven outcome from the PSP if, 
in the judgement of the Committee, this 
does not reflect broader company 
performance or the shareholder 
experience, or the vesting level is 
otherwise inappropriate.

Recovery and withholding provisions 
allow the Company to recoup vested PSP 
awards within three years in the event  
of misstatement of performance, error, 
misconduct, reputational damage or 
corporate failure where this has led  
to an overpayment in the view of the 
Committee. There is a flexible mechanism 
which allows the Company to withhold 
outstanding deferred or future 
remuneration, or recover the 
overpayment directly from the  
individual concerned.

No performance conditions have been 
attached to options granted pursuant to 
the Company’s SAYE and SIP Schemes, 
which are available for all colleagues.

Executive Directors 
may enter into a 
contract to save up 
to an agreed saving 
limit in line with all 
colleagues in the 
business and HMRC 
guidelines.

Performance 
Share Plan 
(‘PSP’) 
continued

Saving-
Related Share 
Option Scheme 
(SAYE and SIP)

To encourage 
colleagues at all 
levels within the 
Company to 
understand better 
and so participate in 
the growth in value 
of the Company.

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Non-Executive Directors

Element 

Purpose and strategy 

Operation

Maximum opportunity

Non-Executive 
Chairman and 
Directors’ fees

To attract and 
retain high quality 
and experienced 
Non-Executive 
Chairman and 
Directors. 

There is no 
prescribed 
maximum.

The Chairman is paid an all-
encompassing fee.

Non-Executive Directors are paid a basic 
fee and the Chairs of the Main Board 
Committees and the Senior Independent 
Director are paid an additional fee to 
reflect their additional responsibilities. 

These fees are usually reviewed and set 
annually. Additional fees may be paid 
where there is a material increase in the 
time commitments and responsibilities 
required of Non-Executive Directors.

Non-Executive Directors are not eligible 
for pension scheme membership, bonus 
or incentive arrangements. 

They are entitled to reimbursement of 
reasonable business expenses and tax 
thereon. They may also receive limited 
travel or accommodation-related 
benefits in connection with their role  
as a Director.

87

Choice of performance measures and policy discretion 
The remuneration policy provides the Remuneration Committee with the flexibility to 
choose appropriate performance conditions for the annual bonus scheme and for PSP 
awards, subject to the constraints set out in the table above. The choice of metrics will 
depend upon the strategic focus for the Group at the time decisions around the awards  
are taken. The specific measures and the targets used to assess performance will be 
disclosed in the Directors’ remuneration report on an annual basis.

The Committee will operate incentive plans in accordance with their respective rules,  
the Listing Rules and HMRC limits where relevant. The Committee, consistent with  
market practice, retains discretion over a number of areas relating to the operation and 
administration of certain plan rules. These include (but are not limited to) the following: 

 – who participates; 
 – the timing of the grant of award and/or payment;
 – the size of an award (up to plan/policy limits) and/or a payment;
 – discretion relating to the measurement of performance in the event of a change of 

control or reconstruction;

 – determination of a good leaver (in addition to any specified categories) for incentive plan 

purposes and the treatment of leavers; and

 – adjustments required in certain circumstances (e.g. rights issues, corporate restructuring 
and special dividends); and the ability to adjust, but not waive, existing performance 
conditions for exceptional events so that they can still fulfil their original purpose.

Legacy arrangements
For the avoidance of doubt, in approving this policy report, authority is given to the Company 
to honour any commitments entered into with current or former Directors (such as the 
payment of a pension or the unwinding of legacy share schemes) that have been disclosed  
to shareholders in previous remuneration reports. Details of any of these payments to 
former Directors will be set out in the annual report on remuneration as they arise.

Policy on recruitment remuneration
The Committee will set a new Executive Director’s remuneration package in line with the 
Company’s approved policy at the time of appointment. In arriving at a total package and  
in considering the quantum for each element of that package, the Committee will take into 
account the skills and experience of the candidate, the market rate for a candidate of that 
experience as well as the importance of securing the best available candidate. 

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Annual bonus and PSP awards will not exceed the policy maxima (not including any 
arrangements to replace forfeited deferred pay). Participation in the annual bonus plan will 
normally be pro-rated for the year of joining. The Committee may make one-off additional 
cash and/or share-based awards as it deems appropriate, and if the circumstances so 
demand, to take account of deferred pay forfeited by an Executive Director on leaving a 
previous employer. Awards to replace deferred pay forfeited would, where possible, reflect 
the nature of awards forfeited in terms of delivery mechanism (cash or shares), time 
horizons, attributed expected value and performance conditions. Other payments may  
be made in relation to relocation expenses and other incidental expenses as appropriate. 
Any buyout awards would be made under existing arrangements where possible or as 
permitted under the Listing Rules.

In the case of an internal appointment, any variable pay element awarded in respect of  
the prior role would be allowed to pay out according to its terms and any other ongoing 
remuneration obligations existing prior to appointment would continue.

In line with our Remuneration Policy, all new Executive Directors will have their pension 
contribution aligned to the rate applying to the majority of the workforce.

For the appointment of a new Chairman or Non-Executive Director, the fee arrangement 
would be set in accordance with the approved remuneration policy at that time.

Service contracts and policy on cessation
Executive Directors’ service contracts contain the following remuneration-related aspects:

Provision 

Detailed terms 

Remuneration

 – Salary, pension and benefits;

 – company car or cash allowance;

 – private medical health care for the Director;

 – permanent health insurance;

 – participation in annual bonus and profit share (subject to scheme rules);

 – participation in long-term incentive schemes or similar arrangements 

Notice period

 –

 –

 –

(subject to scheme rules); and

life assurance.

the Chief Executive’s contract is terminable on 12 months’ notice served 
by either the Company or the Director;

the Finance Director’s service contract is terminable on 12 months’ notice 
served by the Company or by six months’ notice served by the Director; and

 – any future Executive Directors’ service contracts will be terminable on up 

to 12 months’ notice served by either party.

Termination payment

 – Payment in lieu of notice equal to any unexpired notice of termination 

given by either party; and 

 – payment in lieu shall not include:

 – any bonus payment;

 – any payment in respect of benefits which the Director would have been 

entitled to receive; and

 – any payment in respect of any holiday entitlement that would have 
accrued during the period for which the payment in lieu is made.

 – Details of the circumstances in which the Committee has the ability to 

exercise discretion with regards to termination payments are set out below.

Under their service contracts, if notice is served the Executive Directors are entitled to 
salary, pension contributions and benefits for their notice period save where a payment in 
lieu is to be made. The Company would seek to ensure that any payment is mitigated by use 
of phased payments and offset against earnings elsewhere in the event that an Executive 
Director finds alternative employment during his notice period. There are no contractual 
provisions in force other than those set out above that impact any termination payment. 

88

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Areas where the Committee can exercise discretion with regards to termination payments 
are set out below:

Expected value of the proposed annual remuneration package for Executive 
Directors 

 – any right to annual bonus in the year of departure would lapse unless the individual is 

leaving in good leaver circumstances, in which case a bonus may be payable pro-rated 
for that part of the year worked;

 – deferred bonus shares must normally be retained in trust until the end of their two-year 

The following charts indicate the level of remuneration payable to Executive Directors  
in 2021 based on policy at ‘minimum’ remuneration, remuneration in line with ‘on target’ 
company performance, and the maximum remuneration available.

holding period, but may be released early in exceptional circumstances, such as ill-health;

Chief Executive – Roger Whiteside

 – any unvested awards held under the PSP will lapse at cessation, unless the individual is 
leaving in good leaver circumstances (defined under the plan as death, injury, ill-health, 
disability, redundancy, retirement, their office or employment being with either a 
company which ceases to be a Group member or relating to a business or part of a 
business which is transferred to a person who is not a Group member, a change of control 
or any other reason the Committee so decides). In these circumstances, unvested 
awards will normally vest at the normal vesting date (other than on death or where the 
Committee decides they should vest at cessation) subject to performance conditions 
being met and scaling back in respect of actual service as a proportion of the total 
vesting period (unless the Committee decides that scaling back is inappropriate). Vested 
awards will normally be subject to the mandatory two-year holding period although the 
Committee will have discretion to waive this in exceptional circumstances; and
 – the Committee may agree to payment of disbursements such as legal costs and 

outplacement services if appropriate and depending on the circumstances of cessation.

£3,000,000

£2,500,000

£2,000,000

£1,500,000

£1,000,000

£500,000

0

The table below sets out the details of the Executive Directors’ service contracts:

  PSP
  Bonus
  Fixed Renumeration

£2,706,540

%
8
4

%
6
2

%
6
2

£2,275,133

%
7
3

%
2
3

%
1
3

£1,484,221

%
9
2

%
4
2

%
7
4

£693,308

%
0
0
1

Minimum

On target

Stretch

50% 
share price 
appreciation

Director

Roger Whiteside

Richard Hutton

Date of contract

4 February 2013

7 April 2006

The service contracts are available for inspection during normal business hours at the 
Company’s registered office, and are available for inspection at the AGM.

Fixed remuneration:
 – Salary
 – Pension
 – Benefits

Bonus

Performance Share Plan

Total

89

Minimum

On target

Stretch

50% share price 
appreciation

£575,209
£108,139
£9,960

–

–

£575,209
£108,139
£9,960

£359,506

£431,407

£575,209
£108,139
£9,960

£719,011

£862,814

£575,209
£108,139
£9,960

£719,011

£1,294,221

£693,308

£1,484,221

£2,275,133

£2,706,540

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DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Finance Director – Richard Hutton

£1,500,000

£1,200,000

£900,000

£600,000

£300,000

0

£1,528,541

%
7
4

%
5
2

%
8
2

£1,291,041

%
7
3

%
9
2

%
4
3

£863,541

%
7
2

%
2
2

%
1
5

£436,041

%
0
0
1

Minimum

On target

Stretch

50% 
share price 
appreciation

  PSP
  Bonus
  Fixed Renumeration

Fixed remuneration:
 – Salary
 – Pension
 – Benefits

Bonus

Performance Share Plan

Total

Minimum

On target

Stretch

50% share price 
appreciation

£380,000
£45,600
£10,441

–

–

£436,041

£380,000
£45,600
£10,441

£190,000

£237,500

£863,541

£380,000
£45,600
£10,441

£380,000

£475,000

£380,000
£45,600
£10,441

£380,000

£712,500

£1,291,041

£1,528,541

Assumptions used in the charts:
Base salary levels as at 1 January 2021.
The value of taxable benefits is based on the cost of supplying those benefits (as disclosed) for the 53 weeks ended 
2 January 2021

Bonus 
Minimum remuneration – assumes no award is earned under the annual bonus plan.
On target remuneration – the annual bonus plan assumes the target level is reached for each of the elements, resulting in  
a pay-out of 50% of the maximum:
Maximum remuneration – assumes satisfaction of all performance conditions for all elements under the annual bonus plan 
and therefore full pay out. 

PSP element is calculated as award percentage of base salary multiplied by the relevant vesting percentage.  
Share price movement and dividend accrual have been excluded, other than in the 50% share price appreciation model.
Minimum remuneration – assumes no vesting is achieved under the PSP.
On target remuneration – assumes 50% vesting is achieved.

90

Terms of appointment of Non-Executive Directors
Non-Executive Directors are appointed subject to the Company’s articles of association, 
retiring and seeking election at the first AGM after appointment. 

Thereafter, every Director will be subject to annual re-election by shareholders. The 
Nominations Committee advises the Board as to whether Directors should be nominated 
for re-election. 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 offer themselves for election or re-election, or if not re-appointed at such time.

The following table shows the effective date of appointment for each Non-Executive 
Director:

Non-Executive Director

Ian Durant

Helena Ganczakowski
Peter McPhillips
Sandra Turner
Kate Ferry 

Original date of appointment

5 October 2011

2 January 2014
10 March 2014
1 May 2014
1 June 2019

Current Non-Executive Directors are appointed on an understanding that the appointment 
will last for at least six years, but without any commitment by either party.

All new Non-Executive Directors, from June 2019, are appointed for an initial term of  
three years unless terminated earlier by either party giving to the other party three months’ 
written notice.

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Annual remuneration report
A. How our remuneration links to strategy and reward across the wider workforce
Link to Strategy 
Growth – remuneration at Greggs is intended to incentivise sustainable profitable growth. 
This is reflected in key metrics in the plans including operating profit, EPS, ROCE and 
cost savings

Strategic pillars – delivery against the four strategic pillars is incentivised as appropriate 
by strategic metrics in the annual bonus scheme – for example specific project delivery

The Greggs Pledge – our commitment to deliver these goals is supported with the inclusion 
of sustainability and food waste targets

Compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code
Our report is fully compliant with the UK Corporate Governance Code and we believe that our 
approach to Executive remuneration fully takes into account the required focus on clarity, 
simplicity, risk, predictability, proportionality and alignment to culture. For example, we 
operate simple remuneration schemes consistently year-to-year, which are explained 
clearly and transparently in this Directors’ remuneration report. The typical award levels and 
potential pay-outs are disclosed in the remuneration policy and it has been demonstrated in 
this statement how outcomes have been aligned with performance and strategy.

Reward across the wider workforce 
The remuneration policy for the Executive Directors is designed having regard to the policy 
for colleagues across the Group as a whole and wider workforce remuneration and related 
policies. While colleagues are not formally consulted on the terms of Executive Director 
remuneration, the Remuneration Committee engaged with a representative group of 
colleagues in 2020 to explain how remuneration for Directors aligns with wider company 
pay policy and plans further engagement sessions in 2021.

There are differences in salary levels and in the levels of potential reward depending upon 
seniority and responsibility, although a key reference point for Executive salary increases 
is the average base pay increase across the general workforce. 

We share ten per cent of our profits annually with our colleagues across the business, and 
everyone is eligible to participate in this profit-sharing scheme after six months’ service.  
A higher proportion of the Executive Directors’ remuneration package is delivered through 
performance-related incentive schemes, much of which are in share-based form, which 
provides a good link to long-term company performance and shareholder experience. 
Long-term incentive schemes and bonus participation extends below Board level, with a 
separate share option scheme is in place for Senior Management colleagues and a bonus 
scheme for graded management. Both the LTIP and management bonus schemes are 
aligned to those of the Executive Directors’ and are subject to the same performance 
targets and measures. 

All colleagues with one-years’ service or more may participate in the Share save scheme 
(where colleagues can save to purchase shares at a discount rate at the end of a three-year 
period) and in the Share Incentive Plan (‘SIP’) (where colleagues can purchase shares from 
pre-tax salary subject to HMRC limits). These schemes are generally offered annually. 

B. Remuneration Committee activity for the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021
Meetings during the year
The Remuneration Committee met four times during the year. Details of the Committee 
members’ attendance are given on page 62. 

All members are considered to be independent for the purpose of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code. The Company Secretary acts as Secretary to the Committee. 

Role and responsibilities 
Responsibility is delegated to the Remuneration Committee to ensure that an effective 
remuneration policy is in place for the Chief Executive, other Executive Directors, the 
Chairman and senior management whilst reviewing and taking into account wider 
workforce remuneration and the Company values and culture. It is the Committee’s role to 
establish a remuneration policy that promotes both long-term shareholdings by Executive 
Directors and ensures alignment of policies and practices to support business strategy, 
promote long-term sustainable success of the business and shareholder expectations. 

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Summary of Committee activity during 2020
In an unprecedented year the Committee has focused significantly on the impact that 
Covid-19 has had on the business and the effective application of the remuneration policy 
throughout the year. Details with regards to some of the activities the Committee have 
undertaken have been outlined in the Chair’s letter as well as being summarised below. 

The Regulations also require our auditor to report to shareholders on the audited 
information within this remuneration report and to state whether, in their opinion, the 
relevant sections have been prepared in accordance with the Act and the Regulations.  
The auditor’s opinion is set out on pages 104 to 111 and we have indicated appropriately  
the audited sections of this remuneration report.

 – Concluded consultation with shareholders on the new three-year remuneration policy; 
 – Agreed the new pension arrangements for incumbent and new Directors; 
 – Approved the new remuneration policy for recommendation to shareholders at the  

AGM in May;

 – Reviewed all colleague remuneration in particular acknowledging the one off  

‘Thank You’ payment made to all colleagues in January 2020;

 – Discussed and reviewed Directors’ salaries, in particular the Finance Director’s salary 

and the increase previously discussed with shareholders;

Remuneration advice

The Chief Executive along with Jonathan Jowett (Company Secretary and General 
Counsel), Roisin Currie (Retail & People Director) and Emma Walton (Head of People)  
are normally invited to attend the Committee meetings in order to provide advice and 
support to the Committee. The Finance Director attends where required. During the year 
Korn Ferry supported the Committee. 

 – Reviewed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on colleagues and engaged with 

shareholders on action taken in relation to Executive Directors as outlined in this report; 

Korn Ferry is a signatory to the Remuneration Consultants’ Code of Conduct in relation  
to executive remuneration consulting in the UK. 

 – Discussed the 2020 bonus outturn; 
 – Reviewed the 2021 bonus metrics for the year ahead and agreed bonus potential for 

Finance Director in line with remuneration policy;

 – Discussed and reviewed PSP vesting conditions for the 2018 PSP grant and engaged in  
a full and comprehensive consultation exercise with shareholders to explore proposals;

 – Discussed and reviewed the targets and approval of grants for PSP for the year ahead 

and engaged with shareholders on timing of award and metrics; 

 – Approved grants under the share option scheme (to senior managers below Operating 

Board level);

 – Approved the Company SAYE scheme; 
 – Reviewed Executive Directors’ and senior management’s shareholdings in the Company, 

in the context of shareholding guidelines; and

 – Held a listening group with colleagues to support understanding of the work of the 

Remuneration Committee. 

Structure and content of the remuneration report 
The remuneration report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006 (the ’Act’) and The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups 
(Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (the ‘Regulations’). It also meets  
the requirements of the UK Listing Authority’s Listing Rules.

The Committee reviewed the operating processes in place at Korn Ferry and is satisfied that 
the advice it receives is objective and independent. Fees paid to Korn Ferry during the year 
were £27,870. Korn Ferry did not provide any other services to the Company during 2020.

Shareholder Dialogue
The Committee actively engages with shareholder views and these are taken into account 
in shaping both remuneration policy and practice. Extensive shareholder consultation was 
conducted in 2020. 

AGM Voting Outcomes
The voting outcome from the 2020 AGM reflected both strong individual and institutional 
shareholder support and the results are outlined below. 

For
Against

Total votes cast (excluding votes withheld)

Votes withheld

Total votes cast (including votes withheld)

Approve the remuneration report

% of  
votes cast

98.57%
1.43%

100.00%

Total number  
of votes

71,440,001
1,036,642

72,476,643

2,072,997

74,549,640

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Shareholders were asked to approve the remuneration policy at the 2020 AGM and the 
results are outlined below: 

Approve the remuneration report

For
Against

Total votes cast (excluding votes withheld)

Votes withheld

Total votes cast (including votes withheld)

% of  
votes cast

95.71%
4.29%

100.00%

Total number  
of votes

66,782,219
2,990,047

69,772,266

4,777,374

74,549,640

C. How our remuneration policy will be implemented in 2021 – Executive Directors
The section below summarises the implementation of our remuneration policy for 2021.

Base salary 2021
The annual base salaries for the Executive Directors were reviewed with effect from 
1 January 2021; increases and current salaries are outlined below: 

Director

Roger Whiteside (Chief Executive)

Richard Hutton (Finance Director)

Salary as at 
1 January 2020

Salary as at 
1 January 2021

£565,594

£341,003

£575,209

£380,000

% increase

1.7%

11.4%

With effect from 1 January 2021 the Committee agreed a salary increase of 1.7 per cent  
for the Chief Executive, in line with the base increase for the workforce generally.  
A consistent approach was taken by the Board in relation to both the Chair and  
Non-Executive Directors’ fees. 

Following full consideration of the current circumstances, the Remuneration Committee 
has applied the proposed ‘second stage’ salary increase for the Finance Director to 
£380,000, effective from 1 January 2021. This increase is in line with the approach as set 
out in the Directors’ remuneration report last year and applying this increase still leaves  
his salary and total pay below mid-market pay levels when compared to companies of 
similar size and scope to Greggs. 

93

Pension contribution 2021
As per our remuneration policy, contributions for the Chief Executive and Finance Director 
will reduce following a glide path over a five-year period commencing 1 January 2021, 
reducing by 3.7 per cent and two per cent of salary p.a. respectively until contributions  
are aligned to rate applying to majority of workforce. 

The pension contribution rates for 2021 (both of which are cash in lieu) are:

Roger Whiteside

Richard Hutton

18.8% 

12.0% 

Annual bonus 2021
The annual bonus opportunity for 2021 is outlined below: 

Chief Executive

Finance Director

Maximum opportunity of 125% of base salary. Bonus in excess of 
50% of maximum will be payable in shares deferred for two years.

Maximum opportunity of 100% of base salary. Bonus in excess of 
50% of maximum will be payable in shares deferred for two years.

The bonus metrics are:

Measure

Weighting 

Detail and link to 
strategy

Strategic objectives

30% of total

Outlined below.

Profit

50% of total

Sales

20% of total

Reflects the profit of 
the Group at an 
underlying level before 
tax. This will be based 
on meeting and 
exceeding budget for 
the year. 

Based on company-
managed shop 
like-for-like sales 
excluding any additional 
shops opened during 
the bonus year.

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The strategic objectives for each bonus cycle are based on measures which will provide  
a strong link to strategy and future value creation. For the 2021 bonus there will be three 
strategic objectives each relating to ten per cent of the bonus opportunity. They are:

The Committee will review the prevailing share price at the time of grant and if it 
determines that there is short-term weakness in the share price, it may scale back the 
award levels from the percentages above.

 – ten per cent based on business efficiency/cost savings;
 – ten per cent based on sustainability targets; and 
 – ten per cent based on food waste targets. 

The annual bonus is based on performance against a range of financial and strategic 
performance measures. This range of metrics measures achievement of the Company’s 
key operational objectives. The Committee reviews the key performance indicators (KPIs) 
each year and varies them as appropriate to reflect the priorities for the business in the 
year ahead. Where appropriate a sliding scale of targets is set for each KPI to encourage 
continuous improvement, or sustained high performance with a maximum of ten per cent 
bonus paid out for threshold performance for the profit and sales elements of the bonus

Targets are normally set at the start of the year by the Committee using the outturn and 
performance in the previous year, as well as the business plan, to determine appropriately 
stretching sliding scales. Due to the significant impact of Covid-19 on business 
performance the Committee has postponed setting specific targets until later in the year 
and no later than the half year 2021. Bonus targets for the forthcoming year are considered 
to be commercially sensitive and so will not be disclosed at that time. Retrospective 
disclosure of the targets and performance against them will be made in next year’s annual 
report on remuneration.

The Committee will review performance and any payment under the non-profit based 
element of the bonus may be scaled back (potentially to zero) at the discretion of the 
Committee, in the event that the profit performance for the year is judged to be running 
significantly below that required for the achievement of the long-term strategy.

PSP award 2021
PSP awards will be granted as follows:

Chief Executive

Finance Director 

Performance conditions will be based on an equal split of two different financial measures, 
EPS and ROCE. These measures provide a rounded assessment of our overall profitability 
against stretching targets set in line with the strategic plan and business outlook over the 
performance period. For these awards both the EPS and ROCE range has been set to 
ensure that the targets remain appropriate in light of our business strategy over the 
coming three-year period. 

For the 2021 awards the target ranges will be as follows:

 – The EPS performance condition will require EPS in 2023 to be between 77.2p and 105.3p; 

and

 – The ROCE condition will require full year 2023 ROCE to be between 14.8 per cent to  

19.5 per cent.

In both cases 25 per cent of an award will vest on achieving threshold performance and 
thereafter straight-line sliding scales will apply until stretch performance is achieved.

The EPS and ROCE targets represent a significant increase compared to the targets for  
the 2020 PSP awards. 

A holding period is attached to vested PSP awards, requiring the vested shares to be held 
(net of tax and other deductions) for a further two years.

How our remuneration policy will be implemented in 2021 – 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 are set, after consultation with the Chairman,  
by a Committee of the Board consisting only of the Executive Directors. The fees payable 
to the Chairman are set by the Remuneration Committee.

150% of base salary 

125% of base salary 

The Non-Executive Directors are paid an annual base fee and additional responsibility fees 
for the role of Senior Independent Director (SID) or for chairing a Board Committee. 

94

*   EPS and ROCE are measured excluding exceptional items. 

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

These fees are usually reviewed and set annually. The fees were increased by 1.7 per cent 
on 1 January 2021 in line with the base salary increase for the whole workforce. 

Details of the fees being paid to Non-Executive Directors in 2021 are set out below:

D. How our remuneration policy was implemented in 2020 (audited)
Total Executive Director remuneration payable for 2020 
The following table presents the remuneration payable for 2020 (showing the equivalent 
figures for 2019) for the Executive Directors. 

Name

Position

Base fee

Additional fee

Ian Durant
Kate Ferry
Helena 
Ganczakowski
Peter McPhillips

Chair
Chair of the Audit Committee
Chair of the Remuneration 
Committee 
Non-Executive Director

Sandra Turner

Non-Executive Director & SID 

£50,850

£10,170

£50,850
£50,850

£50,850

£10,170

£7,628

Fee

£198,315 
£61,020

£61,020
£50,850

£58,478

These fees may be subject to change during the year based on any change in responsibility or time commitment.

95

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£

Roger Whiteside

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2020
2019

518,4613
565,594 

116,654
127,259

9,960 645,075
705,322
12,469

-
690,732

-
975,297

-

645,075
1,666,029 2,371,351

Richard Hutton

2020
2019

312,5863
323,100 

42,549
44,021

10,441
12,090

365,576
379,211

-
284,102

– 
460,237

– 
744,339

365,576
1,123,550

The value of the PSP award for 2020, due to vest on 19 March 2021, is based on the forecast level of vesting (0%)

Notes: 
1 
2  For the 2019 PSP award the value last year was based on the average share price over the three-months prior to the year 
end. The value has now been updated for the actual price on vesting on 19 May 2020, together with the updated total 
remuneration figure

3  For the period of 1 April 2020 to 31 August 2020 the salaries of the Executive Directors were voluntarily reduced by 20%
4   Taxable benefits relate to cash-in-lieu of a company car and private medical health care

Fees for Non-Executive Directors
The fees for Non-Executive Directors were as follows: 

Ian Durant
Helena Ganczakowski*
Peter McPhillips 
Sandra Turner**
Kate Ferry***

Per annum as of 
13 May 2020 

Per annum as of 
1 January 2020

Actual paid 2020

Actual paid 2019

£195,000
£60,000
£50,000
£57,500
£60,000

£195,000
£45,979
£45,979
£60,000
£60,000

£178,750
£51,575
£45,833
£53,565
£55,000

£183,925
£47,990
£47,990
£56,408
£34,401

*   Helena Ganczakowski was appointed Remuneration Committee Chair as of 13 May 2020.
**  Sandra Turner stood down as Chair of Remuneration Committee as of 13 May 2020. 
**  Kate Ferry joined the Board on 1 June 2019

For the period 1 April 2020 to 31 August 2020 the fees of the Chair and Non-Executive 
Directors were voluntarily reduced by 20 per cent.

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Annual bonus 2020
As a direct result of the impact of the pandemic, the financial targets in the 2019 bonus 
scheme were not met. The strategic targets were met in part, reflecting the tremendous 
efforts of management to continue to progress the strategic agenda alongside the 
day-to-day challenges of Covid-19. Following a full review and in light of the financial 
outcome the Committee decided to use its discretion to determine that the annual bonus 
pay-out for 2020 would be zero, overriding the formula driven pay-outs that would otherwise 
have arisen under the 30 per cent strategic element. 

Process and system change delivery (10%)

Metric

Target 5%

7.5% 

Maximum 10%

SAP roll out to bakery 
sites – Implementation  
of critical IT systems 
with successful 
operation and 
acceptance into service.

Implementation and 
successful cutover  
of first ‘combined’ 
(manufacturing & 
logistics) site

Implementation and 
successful cutover  
of one further site 

Implementation and 
successful cutover  
of one further site 

The table below outlines the bonus performance conditions in respect of 2020 scheme.

Delivery (5%)

Strategic objective

Weighting

Entry

Target

Stretch

Actual

50%

£114.7m 

£119.7m 

£123.7m

(£13.7m) 

20%

3.3% 

4.4% 

5.4%

(36.2)% 

0% 

Metric

Threshold 1%

Cost savings

10%

£6.0m

£10.0m 

–  Not possible 

0%

% 

0% 

Metric

Threshold 1%

Launch delivery into  
50 shops

sliding scale to…

Launch full delivery 
operating model and  
roll out across estate

Sustainability (5%) 

Distribute an increased 
% of unsold food ahead 
of the 2019 end of year 
actual (19.5%) 

10% increase in  
amount of unsold  
food re-distributed  
year-on-year

sliding scale to…

Bonus achieved for 2020

Roger Whiteside

Richard Hutton

Maximum 5%

Launch delivery into  
200 shops

Maximum 5%

50% increase in amount 
of unsold food re-
distributed year-on-year

As % of maximum

0% 

0% 

Details of the shares awarded in 2020 for the 2019 bonus year are outlined below.  
These were awarded on 25 March 2020 and will be released on 25 March 2022:

Director

Roger Whiteside
Richard Hutton

Number of shares awarded

11,251
4,627

to measure 

reliably in 

current 

year

Achieved

10%

5%

0%

Achieved

Not 

achieved

15%

Measure

Profit  
(£)

Sales  
(%)

Strategic  
(£)

To deliver target 
profit before tax 
(excluding 
exceptional items 
and property 
profits)

To deliver target 
increase in 
company–
managed 
like-for-like sales

Strategic 

Process and 
system change 
delivery*

Strategic  Delivery*

Strategic

Sustainability*

Total weighting based on 
balanced scorecard

10%

5%

5%

100%

* 

Further details on the strategic targets are set out below:

96

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Performance Share Plan award for performance over 2018 – 2020 
The PSP award granted in 2018 measured EPS performance by reference to the  
three financial years to 2 January 2021 and average annual ROCE over the three-year 
performance period 2018 to 2020. The performance targets that were set, together  
with the performance delivered, are set out in the table below. 

For the 2020 grant there will be four independent performance targets applying  
to an award.

Each performance target will account for 25 per cent of the award:

Metric

Condition

Threshold target

Stretch target

Earnings per 
share (50%)

ROCE (50%)

Normalised 
average annual 
EPS growth of  
5 -11% per annum 
over three  
financial years.

Average annual 
ROCE over the 
three-year 
performance 
period.

5% p.a.

(12.5% 

vesting)

11% p.a.

(100% 

vesting)

25% 

(12.5% 

29%  

(100% 

vesting)

vesting)

Actual*

(37.3%)

% vesting 

0%

19.5%

0%

 – 25 per cent is subject to a performance target based on the Company’s earnings per 

share (pence per share) in 2022 being between 18.3p and 69.3p; 

 – 25 per cent is subject to a performance target based on the Company’s return on capital 

employed in 2022 to be in the range 3.4 per cent to 12.5 per cent;

 – 25 per cent will be based on the implementation of a centralised Digital App with metrics 

on a sliding scale focused on increasing active user numbers; and

 – 25 per cent will be based on the implementation of a delivery model that increases sales 

growth for the business linked to the Strategic Business Plan.

Total vesting

0%

These final two target ranges remain commercially sensitive at the present time, as they 
relate to details of our digital strategy and delivery. However, we will be in a position to 
disclose these following the end of the performance period.

Performance Share Plan awards granted in 2020
Performance Share Plan Awards granted during 2020 are as follows:

Executive

Roger 
Whiteside

Richard 
Hutton

Type of  
award

Basis of award 
granted

Nil cost 

options

115% of 
salary

95% of 
salary

Share price 
at date of 
grant 
(9 October 
2020)

Number of 
shares over 
which award 
was granted

Face value of 
award

£14.07

46,228 £650,428

£14.07

23,024

£323,947

% of face 
value that 
would vest at 
threshold 
performance

25%

Vesting 
performance 
measurement 
period

Three financial 
years to  
31 December 
2022

For each metric, 25 per cent of the award will vest on achieving threshold performance  
and thereafter straight-line sliding scales will apply until stretch performance is achieved. 
A holding period is attached to vested PSP awards requiring the vested shares to be held 
(net of tax) for a further two years.

97

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page 
DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Outstanding share awards
The following table sets out details of the PSP and savings-related share options  
(all of which were granted at a £nil cost to the Executive Director concerned) held by,  
or granted to, each Executive Director during the year:

Legacy defined benefit pension scheme (Audited)
The following table sets out the change in each Director’s accrued pension in the 
Company’s defined benefit pension scheme during the year and their accrued benefits  
in the scheme at the year end: 

r
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57,303 
52,800
35,543

–
–
-
- 46,228
–
-
-
88

169 
124
84
-

146,023

46,316

27,041
24,916
16,772

-
-
-
- 23,024

169
124
84
-

-
-
88

69,106

23,112

– 
– 
-
-
1691
– 
-
-

169 

– 
– 
-
-
1692
– 
-
-

169 

– 57,3033 
– 52,800
-
35,543
- 46,228
£8.07 Apr 17
-
–
£9.54 Apr 18
124 
–
84 £14.84 Apr 19
-
88 £14.24 Apr 20
-

£nil May 17 £10.720 May 20 May 27
£nil Mar 18 £11.960 Mar 21 Mar 28
£nil Apr 19 £18.300 Apr 22 Apr 29
£nil Oct 20 £14.070 Oct 23 Oct 30
Jun 20 Nov 20
Jun 21 Nov 21
Jun 22 Nov 22
Jun 23 Nov 23

-

192,170 

– 27,0413 
24,916 
–
-
16,772
- 23,024
– 
–
£8.07 Apr 17
£9.54 Apr 18
124 
–
84 £14.84 Apr 19
-
88 £14.24 Apr 20
-

£nil May 17 £10.720 May 20 May 27
£nil Mar 18 £11.960 Mar 21 Mar 28
£nil Apr 19 £18.300 Apr 22 Apr 29
£nil Oct 20 £14.070 Oct 23 Oct 30
Jun 20 Nov 20
Jun 21 Nov 21
Jun 22 Nov 22
Jun 23 Nov 23

- 92,049 

e
m
e
h
c
S

PSP
PSP
PSP
PSP
SAYE
SAYE
SAYE
SAYE

PSP
PSP
PSP
PSP
SAYE
SAYE
SAYE
SAYE

Notes: 
1   The market value on the date of exercise was £13.17 and the resultant gain on exercise was £862.
2   The market value on the date of exercise was £18.39 and the resultant gain on exercise was £1,744.
3   These options have vested but have not yet been exercised. All other options have not yet vested.

Options granted under the all-colleague SAYE scheme are not subject to performance conditions. 
All PSP options are subject to performance conditions as detailed elsewhere in this report.

The mid-market price of ordinary shares in the Company as at 2 January 2021 was £17.90. 
The highest and lowest mid-market prices of ordinary shares during the financial year were 
£24.42 and £11.19, respectively.

98

Accrued 
annual 
pension 
entitlement 
as at 
29 December 
2019
£

Accrued 
annual 
pension 
entitlement 
as at 
2 January 
2021
£

Increase in 
accrued 
pension 
entitlement 
for the year
£

Increase in 
accrued 
pension 
entitlement 
for the year 
net of 
inflation of 
1.291%
£

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

Executive Director

Date of birth

Date service 
commenced

Richard Hutton 3/6/68

1/1/98

18,522

18,522

– 

– 

– 

Notes:
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.

2  The inflation rate of 1.291 per cent shown in the table above is that published by the Secretary of State for Work and 

Pensions in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Pensions Schemes Act 1993.

Cash equivalent transfer value 
as at 28 December 2019
£

Cash equivalent transfer value 
as at 2 January 2021
£

Increase in the cash 
equivalent transfer value 
since 29 December 2019
£

Richard Hutton

371,422 

392,930

– 

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.

The main features of the defined benefit pension scheme are:

-  Pension at normal retirement age of 1/60th of member’s final pensionable salary for each complete year and a 

proportionate amount for each additional complete month of service from the date of joining the scheme until  
5 April 2008 when the scheme was closed to future accrual; 
choice of giving up part of the pension in exchange for a tax-free cash sum subject to a limit of 25 per cent of the total 
value of the member’s benefits under the scheme;
pension payable in the event of ill health;
spouse’s pension on death; and
normal retirement at age 65.

- 

- 
- 
- 

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Chief Executive pay compared to performance
The graph below shows a comparison of the total shareholder return for the Company’s 
shares for each of the last ten financial years against the total shareholder return for  
the companies comprised in the FTSE 250 Index (excluding Investment Trusts) and the 
FTSE 350 Index (excluding Investment Trusts).

Directors’ shareholding and share interests (Audited)
Details of the shareholdings of each Executive Director as at 2 January 2021 and their 
interests in shares are detailed below with the percentage holding calculated using the 
share price at that date. As stated in the Directors’ remuneration policy, Executive Directors 
are required to build a shareholding equivalent in value to 200 per cent of basic salary. 

These indices were chosen for this comparison because they include companies of  
broadly similar size to the Company. 

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

0

1 J

a

n 11

3

1 D

2

9 D

2

8 D

e

c 11

e

c 1

2

e

c 1

3

0

3 J

a

n 1

5

0

2 J

a

n 1

6

3

1 D

e

c 1

6

3

0 D

e

c 1
7

2

9 D

2

9 D

e

c 1

8

e

c 1

9

0

2 J

a

n 2
1

FTSE 350 
(excluding investment trusts)

FTSE 250 
(excluding investment trusts)

Greggs

Remuneration outcomes for Chief Executive over last ten years
The table below shows the total remuneration figure for the Chief Executive over the same 
ten-year period as the graph above. The total remuneration figure includes the annual 
bonus, pension and PSP/option awards which vested based on performance in those years.

Director

Roger Whiteside
Richard Hutton
Ian Durant
Helena 
Ganczakowski
Peter McPhillips
Sandra Turner

Kate Ferry

Beneficially 
owned at 
2 January 2021

Beneficially 
owned at 
28 December 2019

Outstanding PSP 
awards

Outstanding 
option awards

% shareholding 
achieved at 
2 January 2021

161,846 
94,014
11,700

1,100
1,000
1,000

562

150,306
89,218
11,700

1,100
1,000
1,000

n/a

191,874
91,753
–

–
–
–

–

296
296
–

–
–
–

–

512%
521%
n/a

n/a
n/a
n/a

n/a

There have been no changes since 2 January 2021 in the Directors’ interests noted above. Further details of outstanding 
share awards are given on page 98.

Exit payments or payments to past Directors (Audited)
No payments for compensation or loss of office were paid to, or receivable by, any  
former Director. 

Total remuneration

Bonus (% of max potential)

PSP/options (% max potential)

£707,245

£635,030

£1,011,381

£1,238,248

£2,462,193

£2,135,526

£1,676,652 

£1,724,597

£2,530,080

£645,075

38.6%

0%

18.0%

78.3%

20.0%

n/a 

100.0%

n/a

93.7%

100%

86.7%

100%

64.3%

100%

59.2%

80.2%

97.7%

100%

0.0%

0.0%

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

99

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

External directorships
Executive Directors may take up one Non-Executive Directorship outside of the Company 
subject to the Board’s approval and provided that such an appointment is not likely to lead 
to a conflict of interest. It is recognised that this can support a Director’s development and 
enhance experience as well as benefit the Company. Executive Directors will be entitled to 
retain the fees of such an appointment. 

Roger Whiteside was appointed as Non-Executive Director of Card Factory plc effective 
from 4 December 2017. He retains the fees that he earns. In 2020 this fee was £45,000. 

Richard Hutton was appointed as Non-Executive Director of The Lakes Distillery Company 
plc effective from 1 June 2018. He retains the fees that he earns. In 2020 this fee was £19,167. 

Relative importance of spend on pay 
The Committee is aware of the importance of pay across the business and the table below 
shows the expenditure and percentage change in the overall spend on all colleague costs 
compared to other key financial indicators.

All colleague costs

Dividends

Retained profit 

Corporation tax paid

2020 
£m

414.8

0.0

(13.0)

10.7

2019
£m

412.4

72.1

91.8

20.3

% increase /
(decrease)

0.6%

(100%)

(114.1%)

(47.3%)

Percentage change in remuneration of all Directors 
The table below sets out the percentage change in remuneration for all Directors 
(Executive and Non-Executive) compared to the wider workforce. 

For this purpose the wider workforce is defined as all full-time head office management 
colleagues as they too are entitled to receive benefits and annual bonus awards. 

All Directors 
 –
salary
 – benefits
 – performance pay

Average per colleague 
 –
salary
 – benefits*

 – performance pay

% change from 2019 to 2020

(5.0%) 
(16.9%) 
(100.0%)

0.0%
3.2%

(100%)

* 

The average colleague benefits figure is based on tax year 2019/20 for 2020 and tax year 2018/19 for 2019.

100

Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageDIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Chief Executive pay ratio reporting 
Outlined below is the ratio of the Chief Executive’s single figure of total remuneration for 
2020 expressed as a multiple of total remuneration for UK colleagues. 

As required in the regulations, we confirm our belief that the median pay ratio for the year  
is consistent with the Company’s wider pay, reward and progression policies affecting our 
colleagues and the impact that Covid-19 has had on Executive Remuneration. 

The three ratios referenced below are calculated by reference to the colleagues at the  
25th, 50th and 75th percentile. We additionally disclose the total pay and benefits and base 
salary of the colleagues used to calculate the ratios.

In time, the table below will build to represent ten years of data:

Financial year 

2020

2019

Method

Option B

Option B

25th percentile  
pay ratio

Median pay ratio

75th percentile  
pay ratio 

30:1

132:1

30:1

126:1

28:1

108:1

Full year pay data for the 2020 financial year has been used to calculate the ratios.

Disclosure of colleague data used to calculate the ratios

25th percentile 

Median 

75th percentile 

Total pay and benefits

Base salary

£21,340

£20,539

£21,553

£20,738

£22,647

£21,789

The following adjustments have been made in order to calculate the figures above:

Our pay reflects the key market in which we operate, although we also support our 
colleagues with additional benefits such as profit share and SAYE participation. As 
previously outlined in both our Chair’s statement and this report, we worked hard to 
support our colleagues in 2020. At the start of this unprecedented year we made a special 
payment to all colleagues below Board level in recognition of their contribution to business 
success. All our colleagues shared in a one-off payment costing £7 million which was paid 
at the end of January 2020 and was in addition to the annual profit share payment all our 
eligible colleagues received in March 2020 and included in the figures above. As well as this, 
full contract hours were paid from the date at which our shops and supply sites closed due 
to lockdown (week commencing 23 March) until 1 July, with furlough pay being topped up to 
100 per cent. As of 1 July, all colleagues on furlough were paid 80 per cent of their contract 
hours or 80 per cent of their average pay, whichever was higher. Across the whole period  
of furlough the government cap on earnings was not applied. 

Due to the impact of Covid-19 the base pay award for our Chief Executive was cancelled  
in 2020 and, as well as this, for the five-month period between April and August 2020 he 
voluntarily took a 20 per cent reduction in his pay. Additionally the variable pay of the  
Chief Executive has been impacted in 2020. 

 – We have used the assumption of a 40 hour week in order to calculate the hourly rate  

for the Chief Executive from the single total remuneration figure; and

This report was approved by the Board on 16 March 2021.

 – As the hours our colleague work vary week to week we have converted their hourly rate 
of pay into the equivalent 40 hour week in order that this is directly comparable with the 
hourly rate for the Chief Executive. 

Signed on behalf of the Board

Of the three options set out in the legislation for calculating the Chief Executive pay ratio, 
we are using Option B – which uses Gender Pay Gap (‘GPG’) data – to calculate the pay ratio. 
We believe the steady nature of our workforce ensures that the representative group 
remains the same as those individuals who are identified through the GPG reporting 
process. The individuals represented at the 25th, median and 75th percentile are all 
colleagues within our retail shops. The nature of our workforce and demographics are  
such that we have over 80 per cent of our colleagues working in our front-line shop 
operations which is characteristic of our sector. 

Dr. Helena Ganczakowski
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
16 March 2021

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Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next page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 international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006 and applicable law and have elected to prepare the Parent Company accounts on the same basis. In addition, the Group accounts 
are required under the UK Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules to be prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union (‘IFRSs as adopted by the EU’)

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 the Group’s 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, relevant and reliable; 
 – state whether they have been prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Group accounts, International Financial Reporting Standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) 
No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union (‘IFRSs as adopted by the EU’);

 – assess the Group and Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern; 

and 

 – use the going concern basis of accounting unless they either intend to liquidate the Group or the Parent Company or to cease operations,  

or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

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 are responsible for such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the 
preparation of accounts that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and 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 Strategic Report, Directors’ Report, Directors’ 
Remuneration Report and Corporate Governance Statement that comply 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. 

102

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Responsibility statement of the Directors in respect of the annual report and accounts 
We confirm that to the best of our 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 or loss of the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole; and 

 – the Strategic report and Directors’ report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the 

issuer and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties 
that they face. 

We consider the annual report and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for 
shareholders to assess the Group’s position and performance, business model and strategy.

Roger Whiteside 
Chief Executive 
16 March 2021

Richard Hutton
Finance Director

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF GREGGS PLC

1.  Our opinion is unmodified
We have audited the accounts of Greggs plc (‘the Company’) for the 53 week period ended 
2 January 2021 which comprise the consolidated income statement, consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income, balance sheets, statements of changes in equity, 
statements of cashflows, and the related notes, including the accounting policies. 

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 2 January 2021 and of the Group’s loss for the period then ended; 

 – the Group accounts have been properly prepared in accordance with international 

accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006; 

 – the Parent Company accounts have been properly prepared in accordance with 
international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of, 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 
to the extent applicable. 

Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK)  
(‘ISAs (UK)’) and applicable law. Our responsibilities are described below. We believe that 
the audit evidence we have obtained is a sufficient and appropriate basis for our opinion. 
Our audit opinion is consistent with our report to the Audit Committee. 

We were first appointed as auditor by the Company before 1984. The period of total 
uninterrupted engagement is for more than the 37 financial years ended 2 January 2021. 
We have fulfilled our ethical responsibilities under, and we remain independent of the 
Group in accordance with, UK ethical requirements including the FRC Ethical Standard  
as applied to listed public interest entities. No non-audit services prohibited by that 
standard were provided.

Overview

Materiality: 
Group accounts as a whole

Coverage

Key audit matters 

Recurring risks

Event driven

£5.0m (2019: £5.0m)

100% (2019:100%) of Group loss  
(2019: profit) before tax

Valuation of defined benefit 
pension obligation

New: Going Concern

New: Recoverability of company-
managed shop Property, plant and 
equipment and right-of-use assets

vs 2019

2.  Key audit matters: our assessment of risks of material misstatement
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most 
significance in the audit of the accounts and include the most significant assessed risks  
of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by us, including those 
which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in 
the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. We summarise below the key 
audit matters, in decreasing order of audit significance, in arriving at our audit opinion 
above, together with our key audit procedures to address those matters and, as required 
for public interest entities, our results from those procedures. These matters were 
addressed, and our results are based on procedures undertaken, in the context of, and 
solely for the purpose of, our audit of the accounts as a whole, and in forming our opinion 
thereon, and consequently are incidental to that opinion, and we do not provide a separate 
opinion on these matters.

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Greggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF GREGGS PLC

2.  Key audit matters: our assessment of risks of material misstatement continued

Going concern

The risk

Disclosure quality

(Group and Parent Company)

The accounts explain how the Board has formed a judgement that it is 

Refer to page 75 (Audit Committee Report), 

and page 122 (basis of preparation).

appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of preparation for the Group  

and Parent Company.

Our response

We considered whether these risks could plausibly affect the liquidity or 

covenant compliance in the going concern period by assessing the Directors’ 

sensitivities over the level of available financial resources and covenant 

thresholds indicated by the Group’s financial forecasts taking account of 

severe, but plausible, adverse effects that could arise from these risks 

That judgement is based on an evaluation of the inherent risks to the Group’s 

and Company’s business model and how those risks might affect the Group’s 

and Company’s financial resources or ability to continue operations over a 

individually and collectively. 

Our procedures also included:

period of at least a year from the date of approval of the accounts. 

The risks most likely to adversely affect the Group’s and Company’s available 

financial resources and metrics relevant to debt covenants over this period 

were: 

 –

those associated with Covid-19 including the potential for  
government-imposed shop closures (in addition to current lockdown 

measures) or short-term changes to consumer behaviour as a result  

of the pandemic; and

 – Funding assessment: Considering the availability and sufficiency of the 
financing arrangements in place at the Group, including the headroom on 
financial covenants in place on the Group’s new revolving credit facility; 

 – Our sector experience: The Directors performed an initial sensitivity 

analysis of the level of financial resources. We compared the Directors’ 

assumptions of plausible (but not unrealistic) adverse effects that could 

arise from these risks individually and collectively to our knowledge of the 

entity and the sector in which it operates. As a result of this comparison  

we requested that the Directors applied the severe, but plausible, risk 

 –

the impact of a brand-damaging food scare on customer demand.

sensitivities collectively;

There are also less predictable but realistic second-order impacts, such as the 

impact of Brexit and potential changes to regulatory requirements or disruption 

at borders, which could result in the reduction of available financial resources.

 – Historical comparisons: Assessing historical forecasting accuracy, by 
comparing forecast results to those actually achieved by the Group and 

challenging the consistency of sales assumptions with the Group’s 

The risk for our audit was whether or not those risks were such that they 

amounted to a material uncertainty that may have cast significant doubt about 

the ability to continue as a going concern. Had they been such, then that fact 

would have been required to have been disclosed. 

performance during previous Covid-19 lockdowns; 

 – Benchmarking assumptions: Assessing the key assumptions used in the 
cash flow forecast including comparing the estimated rate of recovery of 

sales to pre-Covid-19 levels to third-party analysis;

 – Comparing assumptions: Considering whether the forecasts and 

assumptions used by the Directors are consistent with other forecasts used 

by the Group (including those used to assess Recoverability of Property, 

plant and equipment and right-of-use assets); and

 – Assessing transparency: Considering whether the going concern disclosure 

in the basis of preparation of the accounts gives a full and accurate 

description of the Directors’ assessment of going concern, including the 

identified risks, and corresponding assumptions.

Our results: We found the going concern disclosure without any material 
uncertainty to be acceptable (2019: acceptable).

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TO THE MEMBERS OF GREGGS PLC

2.  Key audit matters: our assessment of risks of material misstatement continued

Recoverability of Company-managed  

Forecast-based assessment

The risk

Our response

Our procedures included: 

Shop Property, plant and equipment  

and right-of-use assets

(Group and Parent Company)

The Group and Parent Company have significant Shop Property, plant and 

equipment and right-of-use assets balances. 

As a result of Covid-19 the Group made the decision to close a small number  

(Impairment charge for shop property, plant 

of shops. For company-managed shops which will continue to trade the impact 

 – Methodology implementation: Assessing the calculation methodology  
to ensure that it operates in line with the requirements of the accounting 

standards including the period of forecast cashflows considered when 

determining recoverable amount; 

and equipment and right-of-use assets: 

of Covid-19 on the Group’s business represents an impairment trigger meaning 

 – Sensitivity analysis: Performing our own sensitivity analysis over the key 

£8.7 million (2019: £0.8 million))

that the recoverable amounts of these balances needs to be estimated. 

assumptions used by the Group and identifying those that have the greatest 

Refer to page 73 (Audit Committee Report), 

pages 123 to 124 (accounting policy) and 

pages 146 to 149 (financial disclosures).

The estimated recoverable amount is subjective due to the inherent uncertainty 

impact on the impairment assessment;

involved in forecasting and discounting future cash flows. In particular, as 

individual shops represent Cash Generating Units (CGUs), judgement is needed 

 – Benchmarking assumptions: Assessing the assumptions applied to 
individuals shops for the return to pre-Covid-19 trading levels and the 

in estimating the rate of recovery of sales at an individual shop level and 

timeframe of this recovery with reference to market conditions and 

determining the period over which to forecast cash flows.

third-party analysis;

The effect of these matters is that, as part of our risk assessment, we 

determined that the recoverable amount of company-managed Shop Property, 

 – Historical comparisons: Comparing the assumed rate of recovery of trade 
with the performance at an individual shop level during the period and post 

plant and equipment and right-of-use assets has a high degree of estimation 

year end, including trading during the second and third national lockdowns  

uncertainty, with a potential range of reasonable outcomes greater than our 

in England and the additional measures applied in Scotland and Wales; and

materiality for the accounts as a whole. The accounts (page 124) disclose the 

sensitivity estimated by the Group.

 – Assessing transparency: Assessing whether the Group’s disclosures about 
the sensitivity of the outcome of the impairment assessment to changes in 

key assumptions reflected the risks inherent in the valuation of Shop 

Property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets. 

We performed the tests above rather than seeking to rely on any of the Group’s 

controls because the nature of the balance is such that we would expect to 

obtain audit evidence primarily through the detailed procedures described.

Our results: We found the Group and Parent Company company-managed  
Shop Property, plant and equipment and right-of-use asset balances and the 

related impairment charges to be acceptable (2019: acceptable).

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TO THE MEMBERS OF GREGGS PLC

2.  Key audit matters: our assessment of risks of material misstatement continued

Valuation of defined benefit pension 

Subjective valuation

The risk

Our response

Our procedures included:

obligation

Small changes in the assumptions and estimates used to value the Group’s 

 – Benchmarking assumptions: Challenging, with the support of our own 

(Group and Parent Company)

pension obligation (before deducting scheme assets) would have a significant 

actuarial specialists, the key assumptions applied, being the discount rate, 

(£143.4 million; 2019: £127.6 million)

Refer to page 75 (Audit Committee Report), 

pages 125 and 130 (accounting policy) and 

pages 155 to 158 (financial disclosures).

effect on the Group’s and Company’s net pension deficit.

inflation rate, and mortality/life expectancy against externally derived data; 

The effect of these matters is that, as part of our risk assessment, we 

and

determined that valuation of the defined benefit pension obligation has a  

 – Assessing transparency: Considering the adequacy of the Group’s 

high degree of estimation uncertainty, with a potential range of reasonable 

disclosures in respect of the sensitivity of the deficit to these assumptions.

outcomes greater than our materiality for the accounts as a whole. The 

accounts (Note 21) disclose the range/sensitivity estimated by the Group.

We performed the tests above rather than seeking to rely on any of the Group’s 

controls because the nature of the balance is such that we would expect to 

obtain audit evidence primarily through the detailed procedures described.

Our results: We found the valuation of the pension obligation to be acceptable 
(2019 result: acceptable).

We continue to perform procedures over Valuation of lease liabilities however, following the year of transition to the new leasing accounting standard there is reduced estimation 
uncertainty on an ongoing basis, we have not assessed this as amongst the most significant risks in our current year audit and, therefore, they are not separately identified in our report 
this year. In the prior year we reported a key audit matter in respect of the impact of uncertainties due to the UK exiting the European Union. Following the trade agreement between the  
UK and the EU, and the end of the EU-exit implementation period, the nature of these uncertainties has changed. We continue to perform procedures over material assumptions in 
forward-looking assessments such as going concern and impairment tests however we no longer consider the effect of the UK’s departure from the EU to be a separate key audit matter.

107

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TO THE MEMBERS OF GREGGS PLC

3.  Our application of materiality and an overview  
of the scope of our audit
Materiality for the group accounts and the Parent Company 
accounts as a whole was set at £5.0m (2019: £5.0m). We 
consider this the level which could reasonably be expected 
to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the 
basis of the accounts. In determining both group and parent 
company materiality we had regard to Revenue, Total 
Assets, Loss before tax for the period and average Profit 
before tax over the previous three years.

This represents a change from previous years where we 
have set our materiality for the group accounts and parent 
company accounts as a whole using group profit before tax 
(excluding exceptional items) and parent company profit 
before tax (excluding exceptional items) respectively as a 
benchmark. In the current period, loss before tax does not 
act as a useful benchmark for determining the level at 
which misstatements would influence the decisions of the 
users of the accounts because, due to the unprecedented 
impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Group’s and company’s 
results, the result for the period is not representative of the 
ongoing size of the business. We have therefore used 
judgement to determine appropriate materiality levels with 
reference to Revenue and Total Assets (applying a 
maximum materiality level of 1% of each).

In line with our audit methodology, our procedures on 
individual account balances and disclosures were 
performed to a lower-threshold performance materiality, 
so as to reduce to an acceptable level the risk that 
individually immaterial misstatements in individual 
account balances add up to a material amount across  
the accounts as a whole. 

Performance materiality for the Group and Parent 
Company was set at 75% (2019: 75%) of materiality for  
the accounts as a whole, which equates to £3.75m  
(2019: £3.75m) for both the Group and the Parent Company. 
We applied this percentage in our determination of 
performance materiality because we did not identify  
any factors indicating an elevated level of risk.

We agreed to report to the Audit Committee any corrected 
or uncorrected identified misstatements exceeding £0.25m 
(2019: £0.25m), in addition to other identified misstatements 
that warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. 

The Group audit team performed the audit of the Group  
as if it was a single aggregated set of financial information 
which covered 100% (2019: 100%) of total Group revenue, 
Group loss before tax and total Group assets. The audit 
was performed using the materiality and performance 
materiality levels set out above. 

4. Going concern 
The Directors have prepared the accounts on the going 
concern basis as they do not intend to liquidate the Group or 
the Company or to cease their operations, and as they have 
concluded that the Group’s and the Company’s financial 
position means that this is realistic. They have also 
concluded that there are no material uncertainties that 
could have cast significant doubt over their ability to 
continue as a going concern for at least a year from the date 
of approval of the accounts (‘the going concern period’). 

An explanation of how we evaluated management’s 
assessment of going concern is set out in the related key 
audit matter in section 2 of this report.

Our conclusions based on this work:

 – we consider that the Directors’ use of the going concern 
basis of accounting in the preparation of the accounts  
is appropriate;

 – we have not identified, and concur with the Directors’ 
assessment that there is no material uncertainty 
related to events or conditions that, individually or 
collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group’s 
or Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for 
the going concern period;

 – we have nothing material to add or draw attention to  
in relation to the Directors’ statement on page 122 in  
the accounts on the use of the going concern basis of 
accounting with no material uncertainties that may cast 
significant doubt over the Group and Company’s use of 
that basis for the going concern period; and

 – the related statement under the Listing Rules set out  
on page 66 is materially consistent with the accounts 
and our audit knowledge.

However, as we cannot predict all future events or 
conditions and as subsequent events may result in 
outcomes that are inconsistent with judgements that  
were reasonable at the time they were made, the above 
conclusions are not a guarantee that the Group or the 
Company will continue in operation. 

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TO THE MEMBERS OF GREGGS PLC

5.  Fraud and breaches of laws and regulations –  
ability to detect
Identifying and responding to risks of material 
misstatement due to fraud
To identify risks of material misstatement due to fraud 
(‘fraud risks’) we assessed events or conditions that could 
indicate an incentive or pressure to commit fraud or 
provide an opportunity to commit fraud. Our risk 
assessment procedures included:

 – Enquiring of Directors, the Audit Committee, internal 
audit and Group Company Secretary and General 
Counsel and inspection of policy documentation as  
to the Group’s high-level policies and procedures to 
prevent and detect fraud, including the internal audit 
function, and the Group’s channel for ‘whistleblowing’, 
as well as whether they have knowledge of any actual, 
suspected or alleged fraud;

 – Reading Board, Audit Committee, Investment Board  

and Remuneration Committee minutes;.

 – Reading analysts’ reports published over the course  

of the period; and

 – Using analytical procedures to identify any unusual  

or unexpected relationships.

We communicated identified fraud risks throughout the 
audit team and remained alert to any indications of fraud 
throughout the audit.

As required by auditing standards, and taking into account 
the financial performance of the Group and our overall 
knowledge of the control environment, we perform 
procedures to address the risk of management override  
of controls, in particular the risk that Group management 
may be in a position to make inappropriate accounting 
entries and the risk of bias in accounting estimates and 
judgements such as impairment and pension assumptions. 
On this audit we do not believe there is a fraud risk related 

109

to revenue recognition because revenue recognition is 
non-complex and correlates closely to cash receipts.
We did not identify any additional fraud risks.

We performed procedures including: 

 – Identifying journal entries and other adjustments to  

test based on risk criteria and comparing the identified 
entries to supporting documentation. These included 
those posted to unusual accounts, unusual entries to 
cash and period-end entries in relation to the job 
retention scheme; and 

 – Assessing significant accounting estimates for bias.

Identifying and responding to risks of material 
misstatement due to non-compliance with laws  
and regulations
We identified areas of laws and regulations that could 
reasonably be expected to have a material effect on  
the accounts from our general commercial and sector 
experience, through discussion with the Directors and 
other management (as required by auditing standards),  
and from inspection of the Group’s legal correspondence 
and discussed with the Directors and other management 
the policies and procedures regarding compliance with 
laws and regulations.

As the Group is regulated, our assessment of risks involved 
gaining an understanding of the control environment 
including the entity’s procedures for complying with 
regulatory requirements. 

We communicated identified laws and regulations 
throughout our team and remained alert to any indications 
of non-compliance throughout the audit. The potential 
effect of these laws and regulations on the accounts  
varies considerably.

Firstly, the Group is subject to laws and regulations that 
directly affect the accounts including financial reporting 
legislation (including related companies’ legislation), 
distributable profits’ legislation, taxation legislation,  
and pension legislation and we assessed the extent of 
compliance with these laws and regulations as part of  
our procedures on the related financial statement items. 
Secondly, the Group is subject to many other laws and 
regulations where the consequences of non-compliance 
could have a material effect on amounts or disclosures in 
the accounts, for instance through the imposition of fines 
or litigation or the loss of the Group’s licence to operate. 
We identified the following areas as those most likely  
to have such an effect: Food Safety, Health and Safety, 
Employment Law and Data Protection regulations 
recognising the nature of the Group’s activities. Auditing 
standards limit the required audit procedures to identify 
non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry 
of the Directors and other management and inspection of 
regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. Therefore if a 
breach of operational regulations is not disclosed to us or 
evident from relevant correspondence, an audit will not 
detect that breach.

Context of the ability of the audit to detect fraud  
or breaches of law or regulation
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an 
unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some 
material misstatements in the accounts, even though  
we have properly planned and performed our audit in 
accordance with auditing standards. For example, the 
further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations 
is from the events and transactions reflected in the 
accounts, the less likely the inherently limited procedures 
required by auditing standards would identify it. 

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF GREGGS PLC

5.  Fraud and breaches of laws and regulations –  
ability to detect continued
In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk 
of non-detection of fraud, as these may involve collusion, 
forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the 
override of internal controls. Our audit procedures are 
designed to detect material misstatement. We are not 
responsible for preventing non-compliance or fraud and 
cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws 
and regulations.

6. We have nothing to report on the other 
information in the Annual Report 
The Directors are responsible for the other information 
presented in the Annual Report together with the 
accounts. Our opinion on the accounts does not cover the 
other information and, accordingly, we do not express an 
audit opinion or, except as explicitly stated below, any form 
of assurance conclusion thereon. 

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in 
doing so, consider whether, based on our accounts audit 
work, the information therein is materially misstated or 
inconsistent with the accounts or our audit knowledge. 
Based solely on that work we have not identified material 
misstatements in the other information.

Strategic report and Directors’ report 
Based solely on our work on the other information: 

 – we have not identified material misstatements in the 

strategic report and the Directors’ report; 

 – in our opinion the information given in those reports for 
the financial year is consistent with the accounts; and 

 – in our opinion those reports have been prepared in 

accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

Directors’ remuneration report 
In our opinion the part of the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report to be audited has been properly prepared in 
accordance with the Companies Act 2006. 

Disclosures of emerging and principal risks and longer-
term viability 
We are required to perform procedures to identify whether 
there is a material inconsistency between the Directors’ 
disclosures in respect of emerging and principal risks  
and the viability statement, and the accounts and our  
audit knowledge. 

Based on those procedures, we have nothing material  
to add or draw attention to in relation to: 

 – the Directors’ confirmation within the Viability 

statement (page 46) that they have carried out a robust 
assessment of the emerging and principal risks facing 
the Group, including those that would threaten its 
business model, future performance, solvency and 
liquidity;

 – the Principal risks and uncertainties disclosures 

describing these risks and how emerging risks are 
identified, and explaining how they are being managed 
and mitigated; and 

 – the Directors’ explanation in the Viability statement of 
how they have assessed the prospects of the Group, 
over what period they have done so and why they 
considered that period to be appropriate, and their 
statement as to whether they have a reasonable 
expectation that the Group will be able to continue in 
operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over  
the period of their assessment, including any related 
disclosures drawing attention to any necessary 
qualifications or assumptions. 

We are also required to review the Viability statement, set 
out on page 46 under the Listing Rules. Based on the above 
procedures, we have concluded that the above disclosures 
are materially consistent with the accounts and our audit 
knowledge.

Our work is limited to assessing these matters in the 
context of only the knowledge acquired during our 
accounts audit. As we cannot predict all future events or 
conditions and as subsequent events may result in 
outcomes that are inconsistent with judgements that were 
reasonable at the time they were made, the absence of 
anything to report on these statements is not a guarantee 
as to the Group’s and Company’s longer-term viability.

Corporate governance disclosures 
We are required to perform procedures to identify whether 
there is a material inconsistency between the Directors’ 
corporate governance disclosures and the accounts and 
our audit knowledge.

Based on those procedures, we have concluded that each 
of the following is materially consistent with the accounts 
and our audit knowledge: 

 – the Directors’ statement that they consider that the annual 
report and accounts taken as a whole is fair, balanced and 
understandable, and provides the information necessary 
for shareholders to assess the Group’s position and 
performance, business model and strategy; 

 – the section of the annual report describing the work of 
the Audit Committee, including the significant issues 
that the audit committee considered in relation to the 
accounts, and how these issues were addressed; and

 – the section of the annual report that describes the 
review of the effectiveness of the Group’s risk 
management and internal control systems.

110

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF GREGGS PLC

We are required to review the part of the Governance 
Report relating to the Group’s compliance with the 
provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code specified 
by the Listing Rules for our review. We have nothing to 
report in this respect. 

7.  We have nothing to report on the other matters  
on which we are required to report by exception 
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. 

We have nothing to report in these respects. 

9. The purpose of our audit work and to whom we 
owe our responsibilities 
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. 

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

16 March 2021

8.  Respective responsibilities 
Directors’ responsibilities 
As explained more fully in their statement set out on  
pages 102 and 103, the Directors are responsible for: the 
preparation of the accounts including being satisfied that 
they give a true and fair view; such internal control as they 
determine is necessary to enable the preparation of 
accounts that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error; assessing the Group and 
Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, 
disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going 
concern; and using the going concern basis of accounting 
unless they either intend to liquidate the Group or the 
Parent Company or to cease operations, or have no 
realistic alternative but to do so. 

Auditor’s responsibilities. 
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether the accounts as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue 
our opinion in an auditor’s report. Reasonable assurance  
is a high level of assurance, but does not guarantee that  
an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will 
always detect a material misstatement when it exists. 

Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are 
considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they 
could reasonably be expected to influence the economic 
decisions of users taken on the basis of the accounts.

A fuller description of our responsibilities is provided  
on the FRC’s website at  
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. 

111

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE 53 WEEKS ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 (2019: 52 WEEKS ENDED 28 DECEMBER 2019)

Revenue
Cost of sales
Cost of sales excluding exceptional items
Exceptional items

Gross profit
Distribution and selling costs
Administrative expenses

Operating (loss) / profit 
Finance expense

(Loss) / profit before tax
Income tax

(Loss) / profit for the financial year attributable to equity holders of the Parent

Basic (loss) / earnings per share 

Diluted (loss) / earnings per share

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE 53 WEEKS ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 (2019: 52 WEEKS ENDED 28 DECEMBER 2019)

(Loss) / profit for the financial year
Other comprehensive income
Items that will not be recycled to profit and loss:
Remeasurements on defined benefit pension plans
Tax on remeasurements on defined benefit pension plans

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

Total comprehensive income for the financial year

Note

1

4

6

3-6

8

9

9

Note

21

8

2020
£m

811.3 
(300.4)
(299.6)
(0.8)
510.9 
(465.8)
(52.1)
(7.0)
(6.7)
(13.7)
0.7 

(13.0)

(12.9p)

(12.9p)

2020 
£m 

(13.0)

(11.2)
2.1 
(9.1)

(22.1)

2019
£m 

1,167.9 
(418.1)
(412.2)
(5.9)
755.7 
(572.8)
(62.2)
114.8 
(6.5)
108.3 
(21.3)

87.0

86.2p

85.0p

2019 
£m 

87.0 

3.0 
(0.5)
2.5 

89.5 

112

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020BALANCE SHEETS
AT 2 JANUARY 2021 (2019: 28 DECEMBER 2019)

Group

Parent Company

ASSETS
Non-current assets
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Right-of-use assets
Investments

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Current tax liability
Lease liabilities
Provisions

Non-current liabilities
Other payables
Defined benefit pension liability
Lease liabilities
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

113

Of the Group loss for the year  
£12.9 million (2019: £87.0 million 
profit) is dealt with in the books  
of the Parent Company.

The accounts on pages 112 to 166 
were approved by the Board of 
Directors on 16 March 2021 and 
were signed on its behalf by:

Roger Whiteside
Richard Hutton 

Company Registered Number 502851

Note

2020 
£m 

2019 
Restated
£m 

10

12

11

13

15

16

17

18

19

11

22

20

21

11

14

22

23

23

15.6 
345.3 
270.1 
– 
631.0 

22.5 
39.4 
36.8 
98.7 

729.7 

(91.1)
– 
(48.6)
(4.4)
(144.1)

(3.7)
(11.9)
(243.1)
(2.3)
(3.0)
(264.0)
(408.1)

321.6 

2.0 
15.7 
0.4 
303.5 

321.6 

16.8 
353.7 
272.7 
– 
643.2 

23.9 
27.1 
91.3 
142.3 

785.5 

(142.3)
(11.8)
(48.8)
(5.8)
(208.7)

(4.2)
(0.6)
(226.9)
(2.4)
(1.6)
(235.7)
(444.4)

341.1 

2.0 
13.5 
0.4 
325.2 

341.1 

2020 
£m 

15.6 
345.9 
270.1 
5.0 
636.6 

22.5 
39.4 
36.8 
98.7 

735.3 

(98.8)
– 
(48.6)
(4.4)
(151.8)

(3.7)
(11.9)
(243.1)
(1.8)
(3.0)
(263.5)
(415.3)

320.0 

2.0 
15.7 
0.4 
301.9 

320.0 

2019 
Restated
£m 

16.8 
354.3 
272.7 
5.0 
648.8

23.9 
27.1 
91.3 
142.3 

791.1 

(150.0)
(11.8)
(48.8)
(5.8)
(216.4)

(4.2)
(0.6)
(226.9)
(2.0)
(1.6)
(235.3)
(451.7)

339.4 

2.0 
13.5 
0.4 
323.5 

339.4 

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE 53 WEEKS ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 (2019: 52 WEEKS ENDED 28 DECEMBER 2019)

Group
52 weeks ended 28 December 2019 (Restated)

Balance at 30 December 2018 (as previously reported)
Impact of change in accounting policy *
Restated balance at 30 December 2018

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
Purchase of own shares
Share–based payment transactions
Dividends to equity holders
Tax items taken directly to reserves
Total transactions with owners

Restated balance at 28 December 2019

Note

21

8

Attributable to equity holders of the Company

Issued  
capital 
£m 

2.0 
– 
2.0 

Share 
premium 
£m 

13.5 
– 
13.5 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£m 

0.4 
– 
0.4 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Retained  
earnings
£m 

313.2 
(5.7)
307.5 

87.0 
2.5 
89.5 

4.9 
(11.8)
4.4 
(72.1)
2.8 
(71.8)

2.0 

13.5 

0.4

325.2 

Total
£m 

329.1 
(5.7)
323.4 

87.0
2.5 
89.5 

4.9 
(11.8)
4.4 
(72.1)
2.8 
(71.8)

341.1 

*  Details of the change in accounting policy and consequent restatement are given in the Basis of preparation on page 121.

114

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY CONTINUED
FOR THE 53 WEEKS ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 (2019: 52 WEEKS ENDED 28 DECEMBER 2019)

Attributable to equity holders of the Company

Issued  
capital 
£m 

2.0 

Share  
premium 
£m 

13.5 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£m 

0.4

Retained  
earnings 
£m 

325.2 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

2.0 

– 
– 
– 

2.2 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
2.2

15.7 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

(13.0)
(9.1)
(22.1)

– 
1.5 
(0.5)
0.9 
– 
(1.5)
0.4 

Total
£m

341.1 

(13.0)
(9.1)
(22.1)

2.2 
1.5 
(0.5)
0.9 
– 
(1.5)
2.6

0.4 

303.5 

321.6 

Group
53 weeks ended 2 January 2021

Balance at 29 December 2019 (restated)

Total comprehensive income for the year
Loss for the financial year
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity
Issue of ordinary shares
Sale of own shares
Purchase 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 2021

Note

21

8

115

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY CONTINUED
FOR THE 53 WEEKS ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 (2019: 52 WEEKS ENDED 28 DECEMBER 2019)

Parent Company
52 weeks ended 28 December 2019 (Restated)

Balance at 30 December 2018 (as previously reported)
Impact of change in accounting policy *
Restated balance at 30 December 2018

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
Purchase of own shares
Share–based payment transactions
Dividends to equity holders
Tax items taken directly to reserves
Total transactions with owners

Restated balance at 28 December 2019

Note

7

21

8

Attributable to equity holders of the Company

Issued 
capital 
£m 

2.0 
– 
2.0 

_
_
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Share 
premium 
£m 

13.5 
– 
13.5 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£m 

0.4 
– 
0.4 

_
_
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

_
_
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Retained  
earnings 
£m 

311.5 
(5.7)
305.8 

87.0
2.5
89.5

4.9 
(11.8)
4.4 
(72.1)
2.8 
(71.8)

Total 
£m 

327.4 
(5.7)
321.7 

87.0
2.5
89.5

4.9 
(11.8)
4.4 
(72.1)
2.8 
(71.8)

2.0 

13.5 

0.4 

323.5 

339.4 

*  Details of the change in accounting policy and consequent restatement are given in the Basis of preparation on page 121.

116

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY CONTINUED
FOR THE 53 WEEKS ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 (2019: 52 WEEKS ENDED 28 DECEMBER 2019)

Attributable to equity holders of the Company

Issued
capital
£m

2.0

Share
premium
£m

13.5

Capital
redemption  
reserve
£m 

0.4

Retained  
earnings
£m 

323.5

(12.9)
(9.1)
(22.0)

–
1.5
(0.5)
0.9
–
(1.5)
0.4

Total 
£m 

339.4

(12.9)
(9.1)
(22.0)

2.3
1.5
(0.5)
0.9
–
(1.5)
2.7

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

0.4

301.9

320.1

–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

2.0

–
–
–

2.3
–
–
–
–
–
2.3

15.8

Parent Company
53 weeks ended 2 January 2021

Balance at 29 December 2019 (restated)

Total comprehensive income for the year
Loss for the financial year
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income for the year

Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity
Issue of ordinary shares
Sale of own shares
Purchase 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 2021

Note

7

21

8

117

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STATEMENTS OF CASHFLOWS
FOR THE 53 WEEKS ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 (2019: 52 WEEKS ENDED 28 DECEMBER 2019)

Operating activities
Cash generated from operations (see page 119)
Income tax paid
Interest paid on lease liabilities
Interest paid on borrowings

Net cash inflow from operating activities
Investing activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
Acquisition of intangible assets
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Interest received

Net cash outflow from investing activities
Financing activities
Proceeds from issue of share capital
Sale of own shares
Purchase of own shares
Proceeds from loans and borrowings
Dividends paid
Repayment of loans and borrowings
Repayment of principal on lease liabilities

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

2020 
£m 

61.6 
(10.7)
(6.5)
(0.8)
43.6 

(58.8)
(2.8)
1.8 
0.6 
(59.2)

2.2 
1.5 
(0.5)
100.0 
–
(100.0)
(42.1)
(38.9)
(54.5)
91.3 

36.8 

6

17

17

2019 
£m 

246.0
(20.3)
(6.6)
–
219.1 

(85.4)
(3.7)
1.4
0.3
(87.4)

– 
4.9 
(11.8)
– 
(72.1)
– 
(49.6)
(128.6)
3.1 
88.2 

91.3 

Parent Company

2020
£m 

61.6
(10.7)
(6.5)
(0.8)
43.6 

(58.8)
(2.8)
1.8 
0.6
(59.2)

2.2 
1.5 
(0.5)
100.0 
– 
(100.0)
(42.1)
(38.9)
(54.5)
91.3 

36.8 

2019 
£m 

246.0
(20.3)
(6.6)
–
219.1 

(85.4)
(3.7)
1.4
0.3
(87.4)

– 
4.9 
(11.8)
– 
(72.1)
– 
(49.6)
(128.6)
3.1 
88.2 

91.3 

118

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020STATEMENTS OF CASHFLOWS CONTINUED
FOR THE 53 WEEKS ENDED 2 JANUARY 2021 (2019: 52 WEEKS ENDED 28 DECEMBER 2019)

Cash flow statement – cash generated from operations

(Loss)/profit for the financial year
Amortisation
Depreciation – property, plant and equipment
Depreciation – right-of-use assets
Impairment – property, plant and equipment
Impairment – right-of-use assets
Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment
Release of government grants
Share-based payment expenses
Finance expense 
Income tax expense
Decrease / (increase) in inventories
(Increase) / decrease in receivables
(Decrease) / increase in payables
Decrease in provisions
Decrease in pension liability

Cash from operating activities

2020 
£m 

(13.0)
4.0 
56.9 
51.9 
5.2 
8.8 
0.5 
(0.5)
0.9 
6.7 
(0.7) 
1.4 
(12.3)
(48.2)
– 
– 

61.6 

2019 
£m 

87.0 
3.8 
56.1 
50.8 
0.3 
0.5 
1.2 
(0.5)
4.4 
6.5 
21.3 
(3.1)
4.5 
19.9 
(1.7)
(5.0)

246.0

2020 
£m 

(12.9)
4.0 
56.9 
51.9 
5.2 
8.8 
0.5 
(0.5)
0.9 
6.7 
(0.8) 
1.4 
(12.3)
(48.2)
– 
– 

61.6 

2019 
£m 

87.0 
3.8 
56.1 
50.8 
0.3 
0.5 
1.2 
(0.5)
4.4 
6.5 
21.3 
(3.1)
4.5 
19.9 
(1.7)
(5.0)

246.0 

10

12

11

12

21

6

8

21

119

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020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 results of the associate are not consolidated on the grounds of materiality. 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 2021.

(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 
accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Group accounts, International 
Financial Reporting Standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 as it applies in the European Union (‘IFRSs as adopted by the 
EU’). 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 £0.1 million, and are prepared on the historical cost basis except the defined 
benefit pension asset/liability, which is recognised as the fair value of the plan assets less the present value of the defined benefit obligation.

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 strategic report on pages 2 to 53. The financial position of the Group, its cash flows and liquidity position are described in 
the financial review on pages 41 to 44. 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 chose not to restate business combinations prior to the IFRS transition date (1 January 2004), as no significant acquisitions had taken 
place during the previous ten 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 except if mentioned otherwise. From 29 December 2019 the following amendments were adopted by the Group:

 – Amendments to References to the Conceptual Framework in IFRS Standards;
 – Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8: Definition of Material; and
 – Amendment to IFRS 16 Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions.

Their adoption did not have a material effect on the accounts. The Group chose not to use the practical expedient available in the amendment to 
IFRS 16.

120

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS CONTINUED

Significant accounting policies continued
(b) Basis of preparation continued
Restatement of comparatives
Due to a change in accounting policy there has been a prior-year restatement of deferred tax balances as a result of an agenda decision issued  
by the IFRS Interpretations Committee (‘IFRIC’) in May 2020 which clarified the accounting for deferred tax when the recovery of the carrying 
amount of an asset gives rise to multiple tax consequences. In these situations, the Company previously assessed the net position for 
recoverability but following the IFRIC agenda decision is now required to consider the tax consequences separately and as a result a deferred tax 
asset of £5.7 million relating to buildings which previously qualified for industrial buildings allowances that was first recognised in 2008 has been 
derecognised in the opening position for the comparative period due to not being considered recoverable. This deferred tax asset of £5.7 million 
remains unrecognised at 2 January 2021.

This restatement has resulted in the following balance sheet changes whereby deferred tax is adjusted by £5.7 million, resulting in derecognition 
of the previous deferred tax asset and recognition of a deferred tax liability, and retained earnings reduced by £5.7 million. There is no impact on 
profit and loss or earnings per share in either the current or the prior year.

Deferred tax asset / (liability)
As originally stated – deferred tax asset
Adjustment

As restated – deferred tax liability

Retained earnings
As originally stated
Adjustment

As restated

Group

Parent Company

At 28 December 
2019
£m

At 30 December 
2018
£m

At 28 December 
2019
£m

At 30 December 
2018
£m

3.3 
(5.7)

(2.4)

330.9 
(5.7)

325.2 

0.2 
(5.7)

(5.5)

313.2 
(5.7)

307.5 

3.7 
(5.7)

(2.0)

329.2 
(5.7)

323.5 

0.6 
(5.7)

(5.1)

311.5 
(5.7)

305.8 

The accounting policy for deferred tax has been updated to reflect that when the recovery of the carrying amount of an asset gives rise to 
multiple tax consequences which are not subject to the same income tax laws, separate temporary differences are identified, and the deferred 
tax on these is accounted for separately, including assessment of the recoverability of any deferred tax assets that arise.

121

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Significant accounting policies continued
(b) Basis of preparation continued
Going concern
The Directors have considered the adoption of the going concern basis of preparation for these accounts in the context of the continued 
uncertainty regarding the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on the trading performance of the Group. At the end of the reporting period the Group had 
available liquidity comprised of cash and cash equivalents plus an undrawn revolving credit facility (RCF) (which is committed to December 2023) 
totalling £106.8 million. The RCF covenants relate to maximum borrowing levels and minimum liquidity for the 2021 financial year, thereafter they 
relate to maximum leverage and a minimum fixed charge cover. How these covenants are measured and the required ratios are set out in Note 2.

In 2020 it was necessary to protect the cash position of the Group whilst the additional credit facilities were put in place. Dividends and capital 
expenditure were temporarily stopped along with any non-essential expenditure. Government support for job retention was accessed and the 
Company benefitted from business rate relief.

The Directors have reviewed cash flow forecasts – which include severe but plausible downsides – prepared for a period of 12 months from the 
date of approval of these accounts as well as covenant compliance for that period. 

The forecasts assume that:

 – the Covid-19 pandemic requires two months of further lockdown restrictions in November 2021 and February 2022, during which the  

Company continues to trade as it has done during the most recent periods of lockdown restrictions (i.e. its shops remain open albeit trading  
at reduced levels);

 – there is a gradual recovery in sales levels outside of the restricted periods, which the Group has modelled based on experience in the second 

half of 2020;

 – no further government support is utilised (including for periods where continued availability of support has already been announced);

In this scenario the Group is able to operate without needing to draw on its existing committed lending facility and without taking mitigating 
actions such as reducing capital expenditure and other discretionary spend.

The Directors further considered a more severe scenario where the Group suffers from a brand-damaging food scare resulting in a significant 
sales reduction in addition to the downside assumptions described above. In this scenario the Group would take mitigating actions in respect  
of capital expenditure and other discretionary spend. This forecast scenario shows a possible requirement to draw on the RCF but no breaches 
of the covenants linked to it.

After reviewing these cash flow forecasts and considering the continued uncertainties and mitigating actions that can be taken, the Directors 
believe that it is appropriate to prepare the accounts on a going concern basis. After making enquiries, the Directors are confident that the 
Company and the Group will have sufficient funds to continue to meet their liabilities as they fall due for at least 12 months from the date of 
approval of the financial statements. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.

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Significant accounting policies continued
(b) Basis of preparation continued
Key estimates and judgements 
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.

Impairment
Property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the 
carrying value may not be recoverable. For example, shop fittings and right-of-use assets may be impaired if sales in that shop fall. When a review 
for impairment is conducted the recoverable amount is estimated based on either value-in-use calculations or fair value less costs of disposal. 
Both value-in-use and fair value less costs of disposal calculations require management to estimate future cash flows generated by the assets 
and an appropriate discount rate. Consideration is also given to whether the impairment assessments made in prior years remain appropriate 
based on the latest expectations in respect of recoverable amount. Where it is concluded that the impairment has reduced, a reversal of the 
impairment is recorded.

The Covid-19 crisis has meant that all shops have had periods of no, or reduced, sales and the rate of recovery of sales is inherently uncertain. 
This is considered to be an impairment trigger and as a result all assets in company-managed shops have been tested for impairment.

As a result of the crisis and following the shutdown period a decision was made not to reopen 38 shops. All shop fittings and right-of-use assets 
in these shops have been fully impaired (with no significant degree of estimation required) at a cost of £5.3 million (of which £2.5 million relates  
to fixtures and fittings and £2.8 million relates to right-of-use assets). In addition, a provision of £2.5 million was made for onerous costs and 
dilapidations directly related to these closures which is expected to be utilised over the remaining term of these shop leases. The assumptions 
regarding the lease term in respect of these shops were reviewed and where required the lease liability was remeasured before assessing the 
shop for impairment.

For the remainder of the estate an impairment review was carried out using the following assumptions:

 – Shops have been categorised into different catchment areas (e.g. city centres, transport hubs) and assumptions made on the rate of like-for-

like sales recovery for each catchment;

 – Like-for-like sales have been assumed to grow from December 2020 levels to a level six per cent lower than pre-Covid-19 levels (on average 
across the estate) by the end of 2021, then continuing to grow to pre-lockdown levels by December 2022, with a further one per cent growth 
per annum beyond that through to 2027. Where shops are used to fulfil online orders, the revenues from fulfilling these are included within  
the estimated cash flows for the shop;

 – The like-for-like sales recovery assumes temporary national lockdown restrictions (i.e. schools and non-essential retail closed) for the whole 
of Q1 2021, with further temporary lockdowns in November 2021 and February 2022. For those periods it is assumed that Greggs would trade 
at a sales level consistent with its recent experience of these conditions;

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Significant accounting policies continued
(b) Basis of preparation continued
 – Earning before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and rent (‘EBITDAR’) is used as a proxy for net cash flow excluding rental payments.  

The base figures are assumed to include any potential impacts of Brexit;

 – The discount rate is based on the Group’s weighted average cost of capital (‘WACC’) with an uplift for risk in the current environment and at 

2 January 2021 was 6.7 per cent (28 December 2019: 5.4 per cent); and

 – Consideration of the appropriate period over which to forecast cash flows including with regard to the remaining lease term.

On the basis of these calculations an impairment provision of £8.7 million has been made in respect of 87 shops (of which £2.7 million relates  
to fixtures and fittings and £6.0 million relates to right-of-use assets).

Given the uncertainties of the current trading environment, the sensitivities of these assumptions on the impairment calculation have been tested:

 – A one per cent increase in the discount rate would result in an additional provision of £0.7 million, covering a further ten properties. A one 

percent decrease in the discount rate would result in a reduction in the provision of £0.6 million, with six fewer properties impaired; 

 – A five per cent per annum increase in the sales recovery assumption would result in a reduction in the provision of £3.7 million with 26 fewer 

shops impaired. A five per cent decrease in the sales recovery assumption would result in an additional provision of £6.4 million with a further 
41 properties impaired; and 

 – A more severe national lockdown that required our shops to close entirely for the month of January 2022 would result in an additional 

impairment of £1.4 million covering a further ten shops.

Determining the rate used to discount lease payments
At the commencement date of property leases the lease liability is calculated by discounting the lease payments. The discount rate used should 
be the interest rate implicit in the lease. However, if that rate cannot be readily determined, which is generally the case for property leases, the 
lessee’s incremental borrowing rate is used, being the rate that the individual lessee would have to pay to borrow the funds necessary to obtain 
an asset of similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment with similar terms, security and conditions. As the Group 
had no suitable external borrowings from which to determine that rate, judgement is required to determine the incremental borrowing rate to be 
used. At the start of each month a risk-free rate is obtained, linked to the length of the lease and an adjustment is then made to reflect credit risk. 
For the lease liabilities at 2 January 2021 a 0.1 per cent change in the discount rate used would have adjusted the total liabilities by £1.2 million.

Determining the lease term of property leases
At the commencement date of property leases the Group normally determines the lease term to be the full term of the lease, assuming that any 
option to break or extend the lease is unlikely to be exercised and it is not reasonably certain that the Group will continue in occupation for any 
period beyond the lease term. Leases are regularly reviewed and will be revalued if it becomes reasonably certain that a break clause or option  
to extend the lease is exercised.

Previously, the Group classified property leases as operating leases under IAS 17. The leases typically run for a period of 10 or 15 years. In England, 
the majority of its property leases are protected by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (LTA) which affords protection to the lessee at the end of an 
existing lease term. 

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Significant accounting policies continued
(b) Basis of preparation continued
Judgement is required in respect of those property leases where the current lease term has expired but the Group remains in negotiation  
with the landlord for potential renewal. Where the Group believes renewal to be reasonably certain and the lease is protected by the LTA it will  
be treated as having been renewed at the date of termination of the previous lease term and on the same terms as the previous lease. Where 
renewal is not considered to be reasonably certain the leases are included with a lease term which reflects the anticipated notice period under 
relevant legislation. The lease will be revalued when it is renewed to take account of the new terms. As at 2 January 2021 the financial effect of 
applying this judgement was an increase in recognised lease liabilities of £31.9 million (2019: £41.3 million).

Treatment of items as exceptional
The accounts for both the current and the prior year include items 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. These items include the decision to invest in  
and reshape the Company’s supply chain, with a multi-year, known budget project, in order to support future growth. Judgement is required in 
ensuring that only items that relate directly to this activity are separately presented. Further details of items treated as exceptional are given 
in Note 4.

Post-retirement benefits
The determination of the defined benefit obligation of the Group’s defined benefit pension scheme depends on the selection of certain 
assumptions with significant estimation uncertainty including the discount rate, inflation rate, mortality rates and commutation. Differences 
arising from actual experience or future changes in assumptions will be reflected in future years. The key assumptions, sensitivities and carrying 
amounts for 2020 are given in Note 21.

(c) Basis of consolidation
The consolidated accounts include the results of Greggs plc and its subsidiary undertakings for the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021. The 
comparative period is the 52 weeks ended 28 December 2019.

(i) Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. The Company controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns  
from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. The accounts of subsidiaries  
are included in the consolidated accounts from the date on which control commences until the date on which control ceases. 

(ii) Associates
Associates are those entities in which the Group has significant influence, but not control, over the financial and operating policies. Significant 
influence is presumed to exist when the Group holds between 20 and 50 per cent of the voting power of another entity unless it can be clearly 
demonstrated that this is not the case. At the year end the Group has one associate which has not been consolidated on the grounds of 
materiality (see Note 13).

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Significant accounting policies continued
(c) Basis of consolidation continued
(iii) 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. Any future movements on items previously 
classified as exceptional will also be classified as exceptional.

(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 assets relate to software and the cost of its implementation which are 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 are five to seven years. 

Assets in the course of development are recategorised and amortisation commences when the assets are available for use.

(g) Leases
(i) Lease recognition
At inception of a contract the Group assesses whether a contract is or contains a lease. A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys 
a right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. To assess whether a contract conveys the right 
to control the use of an identified asset, the Group uses the definition of a lease in IFRS 16.

For leases of properties in which the Group is a lessee, it has applied the practical expedient permitted by IFRS 16 and will account for each lease 
component and any associated non-lease components as a single lease component. 

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Significant accounting policies continued
(g) Leases continued
(ii) Right-of-use assets
The Group recognises right-of-use assets at the commencement date of the lease. Right-of-use assets are measured at cost, less accumulated 
depreciation and impairment losses and adjusted for any remeasurement of lease liabilities. The cost of right-of-use assets includes the amount 
of lease liabilities recognised, adjusted for any lease payments made at or before the commencement date, less any lease incentives received. 
Right-of-use assets are depreciated over the shorter of the asset’s useful life or the lease term on a straight-line basis. Right-of-use assets are 
subject to, and reviewed regularly for, impairment. Depreciation on right-of-use assets is included in selling and distribution costs in the 
consolidated income statement.

(iii) Lease liabilities
At the commencement date of the lease, the Group recognises lease liabilities measured at the present value of the lease payments to be made 
over the lease term. Lease payments include fixed payments less any lease incentives receivable and variable lease payments that depend on an 
index or rate. Any variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or rate are recognised as an expense in the period in which the event or 
condition that triggers the payment occurs.

In calculating the present value of lease payments, the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date if the 
interest rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable. Generally the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate. When 
there are no external borrowings, judgement would be required to determine an approximation, calculated based on UK Government Gilt rates of 
an appropriate duration and adjusted by an indicative credit premium.

After the commencement date, the lease liability is increased to reflect the accretion of interest and reduced for lease payments made. In 
addition, the carrying amount of lease liabilities is remeasured if there is a modification, a change in the lease term or a change in the fixed lease 
payments. Interest charges are included in finance costs in the consolidated income statement.

(iv) Short-term leases and leases of low-value assets
The Group has elected not to recognise right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases of machinery and equipment that have a 
lease term of less than 12 months and leases of low-value assets. Lease payments relating to short-term leases and leases of low-value assets 
are recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

(v) Variable lease payments
Some property leases contain variable payment terms that are linked to sales generated from a shop. For individual shops, up to 100 per cent  
of lease payments are on the basis of variable payment terms. These payments are recognised in the income statement in the period in which  
the condition that triggers them occurs.

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Significant accounting policies continued
(h) 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 (l)). The cost of self-constructed assets includes the cost of materials and direct labour.

(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 cost 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  
the income statement as incurred.

(iii) Depreciation
Depreciation is provided so as to write off the cost (less residual value) of each item of property, plant and equipment during its expected useful 
life using the straight-line method over the following periods:

Freehold and long leasehold buildings 
Short leasehold properties   
Plant, machinery, equipment, vehicles, fixtures and fittings 

20 to 40 years
10 years or length of lease if shorter
3 to 10 years

Freehold land is not depreciated.

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

(iv) Assets in the course of construction
These assets are recategorised and depreciation commences when the assets are available for use. 

(i) Investments
Non-current investments comprise investments in subsidiaries and associates which are carried at cost less impairment.

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

(j) 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.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS CONTINUED

Significant accounting policies continued
(k) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprises cash at bank, in hand, debit and credit card receivables 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.

(l) 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.

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. 

(m) 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. Once classified as held for  
sale assets are no longer depreciated or amortised.

(n) Share capital and reserves
(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 when the Company has an obligation to pay and the dividend is no longer at the Company’s discretion.

(iii) Distributable reserves
All Parent Company retained earnings are distributable and are the only such reserves.

(o) 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 treasury shares held by the EBT are stated at cost and deducted from total equity.

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Significant accounting policies continued
(p) Employee benefits
(i) Short-term employee benefits
Short-term employee benefits are expensed as the related service is provided. A liability is recognised for the amount expected to be paid if the 
Group has a present legal or constructive obligation to pay this amount as a result of past service provided by the employee and the obligation 
can be measured reliably.

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

(iii) Defined benefit plans
The Company’s net obligation in respect of defined benefit pension plans is calculated by estimating the amount of future benefit that employees 
have earned in return for their service in the current and prior periods; that benefit is discounted to determine its present value, and the fair 
value of any plan assets (at bid price) is deducted. The Company determines the net interest on the net defined benefit asset/liability for the 
period by applying the discount rate used to measure the defined benefit obligation at the beginning of the annual period to the net defined 
benefit asset/liability.

The discount rate is the yield at the reporting date on bonds that have a credit rating of at least AA, that have maturity dates approximating to  
the terms of the Company’s obligations and that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits are expected to be paid.

Remeasurements arising from defined benefit plans comprise actuarial gains and losses and the return on plan assets (excluding interest).  
The Company recognises them immediately in other comprehensive income and all other expenses related to defined benefit plans in employee 
benefit expenses in the income statement.

When the benefits of a plan are changed, or when a plan is curtailed, the portion of the changed benefit related to past service by employees,  
or the gain or loss on curtailment, is recognised immediately in profit or loss when the plan amendment or curtailment occurs.

The calculation of the defined benefit obligation is performed by a qualified actuary using the projected unit credit method. When the calculation 
results in a benefit to the Company, the recognised asset is limited to the present value of benefits available in the form of any future refunds 
from the plan or reductions in future contributions and takes into account the adverse effect of any minimum funding requirements.

(iv) 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.

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Significant accounting policies continued
(p) Employee benefits continued
(v) Termination benefits
Termination benefits are expensed at the earlier of the date at which the Group can no longer withdraw the offer of these benefits and the date at 
which the Group recognises costs for a restructuring. If benefits are not expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the reporting date they 
are discounted. 

(q) 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) Onerous contracts
Provisions for onerous contracts are recognised when the Group believes that the unavoidable costs of meeting the contract obligations exceed 
the economic benefits expected to be received under the contract. At this point and before a provision is established the Group recognises any 
impairment loss on the associated assets.

(iii) Dilapidations
The Group provides for property dilapidations, where appropriate, based on the future expected repair costs required to restore the Group’s 
leased buildings to their fair condition at the end of their respective lease terms, where it is considered a reliable estimate can be made.

(r) Revenue
(i) Retail sales
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised as income on receipt of cash or card payment. Revenue is measured net of discounts, promotions 
and value added taxation. Revenue from delivery services is included in retail sales and recognised on delivery.

(ii) Franchise sales
Franchise sales are recognised when goods are delivered to franchisees. Additional franchise royalty fee income, generally calculated as  
a percentage of gross sales income, is recognised in line with the franchisees’ product sales in accordance with the relevant agreement. 
Pre-opening capital fit-out costs are recharged to the franchisee and represent a key performance obligation of the overall franchise sales 
agreement. These recharges are recognised as income on completion of the related fit-out. Sales are invoiced to customers in credit terms  
of less than three months.

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Significant accounting policies continued
(r) Revenue continued
(iii) Wholesale sales
Wholesale sales are recognised when goods are delivered to customers. Separate disclosure of wholesale sales is not made where the 
information disclosed would be commercially sensitive, e.g. if there is a single wholesale customer. Sales are invoiced to customers in credit 
terms of less than three months.

(iv) Loyalty programme/gift cards
Amounts received for gift cards or as part of the loyalty programme are deferred. They are recognised as revenue when the Group has fulfilled  
its obligation to supply products under the terms of the programme or when it is no longer probable that these amounts will be redeemed. Where 
customers are entitled to a free product after a set number of purchases under the loyalty programme, a proportion of the consideration 
received is deferred so that the revenue is recognised evenly across all of the linked transactions.

The nature, timing and uncertainty of revenues arising from the above transaction types do not differ significantly from each other.

(s) 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 net of the related expenses 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.

(t) Finance income and expense
Interest income or expense is recognised using the effective interest method.

(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 profit 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. The amount of current tax payable is the best estimate of the tax amount 
expected to be paid that reflects uncertainty related to income taxes, if any. Taxable profit differs from profit as reported in the income 
statement because some items of income or expense are taxable or deductible in different years or may never be taxable or deductible.

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Significant accounting policies continued
(u) Income tax continued
Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable in the future arising from temporary differences between the carrying amounts  
of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used in the calculation of taxable profit. It is accounted for using the 
balance sheet liability method. 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. When the recovery of the carrying amount of an asset gives rise to multiple tax 
consequences which are not subject to the same income tax laws, separate temporary differences are identified, and the deferred tax on these 
is accounted for separately, including assessment of the recoverability of any deferred tax assets that arise.

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 when the related intellectual property is not capable of being formalised or capitalised within 
intangible assets.

(w) IFRSs available for early adoption not yet applied
The following amendments to standards which will be relevant to the Group were available for early adoption but have not been applied in 
these accounts:

 – Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7 and IFRS 16: Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 2 (effective date 1 January 2021). 

Their adoption is not expected to have a material effect on the accounts.

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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. In addition to its 
company-managed retail activities, the Group generates revenues from its business to business (‘B2B’) channel which includes franchise and 
wholesale activities. With the reduction in the level of company-managed retail activities during 2020 both channels are now categorised as 
reportable segments for the purposes of IFRS 8. 

Company-managed retail activities – the Group sells a consistent range of fresh bakery goods, sandwiches and drinks in its own shops or via 
delivery channels. Sales are made to the general public on a cash basis. All results arise in the UK.

B2B channel – the Group sells products to franchise and wholesale partners for sale in their own outlets as well as charging a licence fee to 
franchise partners. These sales and fees are invoiced to the partners on a credit basis. All results arise in the UK.

In the current year the Board has regularly reviewed the revenues of each segment separately. A review of trading profit for each segment was 
not possible as there was no basis on which meaningfully to allocate costs during the period when the company-managed shops were closed. 
The Board receives information on overheads, assets and liabilities on an aggregated basis consistent with the Group accounts. 

Revenue
Trading profit*
Overheads including profit share
Operating (loss)/profit
Finance expense

(Loss)/profit before tax 

2020 
Retail  
company-
managed 
shops 
£m 

715.3 

2020 
B2B  
£m 

96.0 

2019
Retail 
company-
managed 
shops 
£m 

1,073.8 

2019
B2B 
£m 

94.1 

2020
Total 
£m 

811.3 
66.4
(73.4)
(7.0)
(6.7)

(13.7)

2019
Total 
£m 

1,167.9 
205.2 
(90.4)
114.8 
(6.5)

108.3 

* 

Trading profit is defined as gross profit less supply chain costs and retail costs (including property costs) and before central overheads.

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.

Retail sales represent a large proportion of the Group’s sales and present no credit risk as they are made for cash or card payments. The Group 
does offer credit terms on sales to its wholesale and franchise customers. In such cases the Group operates effective credit control procedures 
in order to minimise exposure to overdue debts.

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

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2. Financial risk management continued
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 and is therefore reliant on the continued strong performance of the retail portfolio to meet its 
short-term liabilities. Short and medium-term cash forecasting is used to manage liquidity risk. These forecasts are used to ensure the Group 
has sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions.

During the year the Group accessed liquidity under the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (‘CCFF’) at a favourable rate of interest.  
The borrowings were repaid in December 2020 and the related costs have been charged to finance costs. 

The Group also arranged a £100 million syndicated revolving credit facility which matures in December 2023 with options to extend for up to two 
years. This facility was undrawn at 2 January 2021. For the first up to twelve months of the facility the covenants in place comprise: monthly net 
borrowings do not exceed £70 million; and liquidity is maintained above a minimum of £30 million. Thereafter the covenants comprise: leverage 
(calculated as the ratio of net borrowings to EBITDA) does not exceed 3:1; and fixed charge cover (calculated as the ratio of EBITDA to net rent  
and interest payable) cannot be below 1.75:1.

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

Market risk is not significant and therefore sensitivity analysis would not be meaningful.

Currency risk
The Group has no regular material 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 risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that movement in the interbank offered rates increase causing finance costs to increase. The Group’s interest rate 
risk arises from its revolving credit facility. Whilst the facility remains undrawn increases in the interest rate will not impact on finance costs.

Equity price risk
The Group has no significant equity investments other than its subsidiaries and associate. As disclosed in Note 21 the Group’s defined benefit 
pension scheme has investments in equity-related funds.

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2. Financial risk management continued
Capital management 
The Group’s capital management objectives are:

 – To ensure the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern so that it can continue to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other 

stakeholders; and

 – To provide an adequate return to shareholders by pricing products and delivering services commensurate with the level of risk.

To meet these objectives the Group reviews the budgets and forecasts on a regular basis to ensure there is sufficient capital to meet the needs 
of the Group through to profitability and positive cashflow.

The capital structure of the Group consists of shareholders’ equity as set out in the consolidated statement of changes in equity. All working 
capital requirements are financed from existing cash resources and borrowings.

The Board reserves the option to purchase its own shares in the market dependent on market prices and surplus cash levels. The trustees of  
the Greggs Employee 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
A financial asset is measured at amortised cost if it meets both of the following conditions:

 – it is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets to collect contractual cash flows; and
 – its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount 

outstanding.

The Group’s main financial assets comprise cash and cash equivalents and fixed-term deposits. Other financial assets include trade receivables 
arising from the Group’s activities. These financial assets all meet the conditions to be recognised at amortised cost.

Other than trade and other payables, the Group had no financial liabilities within the scope of IFRS 9 as at 2 January 2021 (2019: £nil).

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2. Financial risk management continued
Financial instruments continued
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 rates.

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.

3. Profit before tax
Loss / profit before tax is stated after charging / (crediting):

Amortisation of intangible assets
Depreciation of owned property, plant and equipment
Depreciation of right-of-use assets
Impairment of owned property, plant and equipment
Impairment of right-of-use assets
Loss on disposal of fixed assets 
Release of government grants

Research and development expenditure

2020 
£m 

4.0 
56.9 
51.9 
5.2 
8.8 
0.4 
(0.5)

–

2019 
£m 

3.8 
56.1 
50.6 
0.3 
0.5 
1.2 
(0.5)

0.3 

Auditor’s remuneration for the audit of these accounts amounted to £193,000 (2019: £165,000) and for other assurance services £15,000  
(2019: £15,000). 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.

In addition, the Group received £87 million under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (‘CJRS’) to support employment. This has been credited 
to the income statement to offset the related employment costs. A further income statement saving of £18.8 million was made following the 
suspension of business rates from April 2020.

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4. Exceptional items

Cost of sales
Supply chain restructuring 

– redundancy
– depreciation and asset write-off
– transfer of operations
– property-related

Total exceptional items

2020
£m 

0.1 
– 
0.7 
– 

0.8 

2019 
£m 

0.7 
0.1 
5.0 
0.1 

5.9 

Supply chain restructuring
This charge arises from the decisions, announced in 2016 and 2017, to invest in and reshape the Company’s supply chain in order to support 
future growth. In 2020 and 2019 the costs related to accelerated depreciation and the expenses incurred as a result of further consolidation of 
manufacturing into dedicated centres of excellence, including additional running costs. This programme of investment is due to be completed 
in 2021.

5. 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 costs of these persons were as follows:

Wages and salaries
Compulsory social security contributions
Pension costs – defined contribution plans
Equity-settled transactions (including employer’s NI costs)

138

2020 
Number 

681 
361 
3,026 
20,276 

24,344 

2020 
£m 

363.5 
26.2 
24.9 
0.2 

414.8 

2019 
Number 

702 
368 
2,994 
19,641 

23,705 

2019 
£m 

357.8 
25.5 
22.6 
6.5 

412.4 

Note

21

21

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5. Personnel expenses continued
In addition to wages and salaries, the total amount accrued 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

2020 
£m 

– 
– 
– 

– 

2019 
£m 

3.3 
7.9 
1.6 

12.8 

For the purposes of IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’, key management personnel comprises the Directors and the members of the Operating 
Board and their remuneration was as follows:

Salaries and fees
Taxable benefits
Annual bonus (including profit share)
Post-retirement benefits
Equity-settled transactions

2020 
£m 

2.7 
0.1 
– 
0.3 
0.2 

3.3 

2019 
£m 

2.9 
0.1 
2.3 
0.4 
3.0 

8.7 

The following amounts are disclosed in accordance with Schedule 5 of the Large and Medium-Sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) 
Regulations 2008.

Aggregate Directors’ remuneration
Aggregate amount of gains on exercise of share options

2020 
£m 

2.4 
– 

2.4 

2019 
£m 

2.1 
1.0 

3.1 

The number of Directors in the defined contribution pension scheme and in the defined benefit pension scheme during the year was one (2019: one).

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6. Finance expense

Interest income on cash balances
Interest expense on borrowings
Foreign exchange gain / (loss)
Interest on lease liabilities
Net interest related to defined benefit pension obligation 

Note

21

2020 
£m 

0.4 
(0.8)
0.2 
(6.5)
– 

(6.7)

2019 
£m 

0.5 
– 
(0.2)
(6.6)
(0.2)

(6.5)

7. Profit attributable to Greggs plc
Of the Group loss for the year, £12.9 million (2019: £87.0 million profit) is dealt with in the accounts of the Parent Company. The Company has 
taken advantage of the exemption permitted by s408 of the Companies Act 2006 from presenting its own income statement.

8. Income tax expense
Recognised in the income statement

Current tax 
Current year
Adjustment for prior years

Deferred tax 
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
Adjustment for prior years

Total income tax expense in income statement

140

2020 
£m 

(0.6)
(0.6)
(1.2)

0.4 
0.1 
0.5 

(0.7)

2019 
£m 

22.2 
(0.1)
22.1 

(0.2)
(0.6)
(0.8)

21.3 

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8. Income tax expense continued
Reconciliation of effective tax rate
The table below explains the differences between the expected tax expense calculated at the UK statutory rate of 19 per cent (2019: 19 per cent) 
and the actual tax expense for each year. 

(Loss)/profit before tax
Income tax using the domestic corporation tax rate
Items not (taxable) / deductible for tax purposes
Non-tax-deductible depreciation
Impairment of non-tax-deductible assets
Impact of increase in deferred tax rate
Adjustment for prior years

Total income tax expense in income statement

2020 

19.00%
(2.35%)
(9.39%)
(0.99%)
(4.92%)
3.49% 

5.23% 

2020 
£m 

(13.7)
(2.6)
0.3 
1.3 
0.1 
0.7 
(0.5)

(0.7)

2019 

19.00% 
(0.18%)
1.48% 
– 
– 
(0.63%)

19.67% 

2019 
£m 

108.3 
20.6 
(0.2)
1.6 
– 
– 
(0.7)

21.3 

Legislation to maintain the rate of corporation tax at 19 per cent was substantively enacted on 17 March 2020, cancelling the previously enacted 
reduction to 17 per cent. Any timing differences are therefore expected to reverse at 19 per cent.

Tax recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity

Debit / (credit):
Relating to equity-settled transactions
Relating to defined benefit pension plans – remeasurement gains

2020 
Current tax 
£m 

2020 
Deferred tax 
£m

– 
– 

– 

1.5 
(2.1)

(0.6)

2020 
Total 
£m 

1.5 
(2.1)

(0.6)

2019 
Total 
£m 

(2.8)
0.5 

(2.3)

The deferred tax movements in both the current and prior years relating to equity-settled transactions are in respect of share-based payments 
and arise as a result of fluctuations in share price in the year and the stage of maturity of existing schemes together with the revaluation impact 
of the deferred tax previously recognised directly in equity.

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9. Earnings per share 
Basic (loss)/earnings per share
Basic earnings per share for the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021 is calculated by dividing (loss)/profit attributable to ordinary shareholders  
by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021 as calculated below.

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share
There are no potential ordinary shares in the current year that are considered to be dilutive. The number of potential ordinary shares that could 
be dilutive in future years is 915,989. 

(Loss)/profit attributable to ordinary shareholders

(Loss)/profit for the financial year attributable to equity holders of the Parent

Basic (loss)/earnings per share 

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

Issued ordinary shares at start of year
Effect of own shares held
Effect of shares issued

Weighted average number of ordinary shares during the year
Effect of share options in issue

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

2020 
£m 

(13.0)

(12.9p)

(12.9p)

2019 
£m 

87.0 

86.2p 

85.0p 

2020 
Number 

101,155,901 
(302,104)
113,334 
100,967,131 
– 

2019 
Number 

101,155,901 
(342,748)
– 
100,813,153 
1,505,456 

100,967,131 

102,318,609

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10. Intangible assets
Group and Parent Company

Cost
Balance at 30 December 2018
Additions
Transfers

Balance at 28 December 2019

Balance at 29 December 2019
Additions
Transfers

Balance at 2 January 2021

Amortisation
Balance at 30 December 2018
Amortisation charge for the year

Balance at 28 December 2019

Balance at 29 December 2019
Amortisation charge for the year

Balance at 2 January 2021

Carrying amounts

At 29 December 2018

At 28 December 2019

At 29 December 2019

At 2 January 2021

Software
£m 

Assets under 
development
£m 

23.8 
2.5 
2.6 

28.9 

28.9 
2.7 
1.5 

33.1 

9.8 
3.8 

13.6 

13.6 
4.0 

17.6 

14.0 

15.3 

15.3 

15.5 

2.9 
1.2 
(2.6)

1.5 

1.5 
0.1 
(1.5)

0.1 

–
–

–

–
–

–

2.9 

1.5 

1.5 

0.1 

Total
£m 

26.7 
3.7 
–

30.4 

30.4 
2.8 
– 

33.2 

9.8 
3.8 

13.6 

13.6 
4.0 

17.6 

16.9

16.8 

16.8 

15.6 

Assets under development relate to software projects arising from the investment in new systems platforms.

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11. Leases
Amounts recognised in the balance sheets
The balance sheets show the following amounts relating to leases:

Group and Parent Company

Right-of-use assets
Land and buildings
Plant and equipment

Lease liabilities
Current
Non-current

The remaining maturities of the lease liabilities, which are gross and undiscounted, are as follows:

Less than one year
One to two years
Two to three years
Three to four years
Four to five years
More than five years

Total undiscounted lease liability

2020
£m 

267.8 
2.3 

270.1 

2020 
£m 

48.6 
243.1 

291.7 

2020
£m

54.4 
49.3 
43.6 
39.2 
34.2 
94.9 

315.5 

2019 
£m 

269.4 
3.3 

272.7 

2019 
£m 

48.8 
226.9 

275.7 

2019 
£m 

51.0 
48.5 
42.5 
35.8 
31.9 
94.6 

304.3

Additions to right-of-use assets during the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021 as a result of entering in to new leases (either as a result of acquiring 
new shops or completing lease renewals for existing shops) were £26.2 million (2019: £45.5 million).

A further net increase of £31.9 million to right-of-use assets has been recognised during the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021 as a result of lease 
modifications and assumptions relating to lease term once a lease has expired (2019: £12.6 million).

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11. Leases continued
Amounts recognised in the income statement

Depreciation charge on right-of-use assets
Land and buildings
Plant and equipment

Interest expense (included in finance cost)
Expense included for short-term leases (included in cost of sales and administrative expenses)
Expense related to lease of low-value assets that are not shown above as short-term leases (included in 

administrative expenses)

Expense related to variable lease payments not included in lease liabilities (included in selling and distribution)

The total cash outflow for leases in 2020 was £48.6 million (2019: £56.2 million).

The components of the movement in the total lease liability were as follows:

Opening total liability
Additions in respect of new leases
Lease modifications
Interest on lease liabilities 
Rental payments

Closing total liability

145

2020 
£m 

50.2 
1.7 

51.9 

6.5 
0.2 

0.2 
0.6 

2019 
£m 

48.9 
1.9 

50.8 

6.6 
0.2 

0.2 
2.2 

2020 
£m 

275.7 
26.2 
31.9 
6.5 
(48.6)

291.7 

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12. Property, plant and equipment
Group

Cost
Balance at 30 December 2018
Additions
Disposals
Transfers

Balance at 28 December 2019

Balance at 29 December 2019
Additions
Disposals
Transfers

Balance at 2 January 2021

Depreciation
Balance at 30 December 2018
Depreciation charge for the year
Impairment charge for the year
Impairment release for the year
Disposals

Balance at 28 December 2019

Balance at 29 December 2019
Depreciation charge for the year
Impairment charge for the year
Impairment release for the year
Disposals

Balance at 2 January 2021

Carrying amounts

At 30 December 2018

At 28 December 2019

At 29 December 2019

At 2 January 2021

Land and 
buildings 
£m 

Plant and 
equipment 
£m 

Fixtures 
and fittings 
£m 

Assets under
construction
£m 

153.1 
12.2 
(0.6)
1.6 

166.3 

166.3 
3.3 
(0.7)
– 

168.9

44.1 
4.6 
– 
– 
(0.5)

48.2 

48.2 
4.9 
– 
– 
(0.3)

52.8 

109.0 

118.1 

118.1 

116.1 

154.9 
28.1 
(14.9)
0.5 

168.6 

168.6 
10.1 
(8.1)
1.9 

172.5 

89.9 
13.3 
0.5 
– 
(14.4)

89.3 

89.3 
14.3 
– 
– 
(7.4)

96.2 

65.0 

79.3 

79.3 

76.3 

321.1 
36.0 
(19.3)
– 

337.8 

337.8 
19.6 
(8.7)
– 

348.7 

166.7 
38.2 
0.4 
(0.6)
(17.3)

187.4 

187.4 
37.6 
5.9 
(0.7)
(7.5)

222.7 

154.4 

150.4 

150.4 

126.0

2.0 
6.0 
– 
(2.1)

5.9 

5.9 
22.9 
– 
(1.9)

26.9 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

2.0 

5.9 

5.9 

26.9 

Total 
£m 

631.1 
82.3 
(34.8)
– 

678.6 

678.6 
55.9 
(17.5)
– 

717.0

300.7 
56.1 
0.9 
(0.6)
(32.2)

324.9 

324.9 
56.8 
5.9 
(0.7)
(15.2)

371.7 

330.4 

353.7 

353.7 

345.3 

Assets under construction relate to the building of an automated cold storage facility and the value of the assets will be recovered through the 
normal course of trade.

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12. Property, plant and equipment continued
Group continued
Assets are reviewed for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable and provision 
is made where necessary. The method and assumptions used in these calculations, together with the associated sensitivities, are set out in the 
basis of preparation – key estimates and judgements on page 123 and 124. 

During 2018, the Company exchanged contracts for the disposal of the vacant Twickenham site. The disposal is conditional on a number of 
factors, including the applications for and successful grant of planning permission. As at the end of 2020 the timing of the resolution of these 
factors remains uncertain and therefore this asset continues to be classified as non-current. At this stage the total proceeds arising from supply 
chain site disposals are still expected to be in line with those anticipated in the investment plan. 

147

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12. Property, plant and equipment continued
Parent Company

Cost
Balance at 30 December 2018
Additions
Disposals
Transfers

Balance at 28 December 2019

Balance at 29 December 2019
Additions
Disposals
Transfers

Balance at 2 January 2021

Depreciation
Balance at 30 December 2018
Depreciation charge for the year
Impairment charge for the year
Impairment release for the year
Disposals

Balance at 28 December 2019

Balance at 29 December 2019
Depreciation charge for the year
Impairment charge for the year
Impairment release for the year
Disposals

Balance at 2 January 2021

Carrying amounts

At 30 December 2018

At 28 December 2019

At 29 December 2019

At 2 January 2021

148

Land and 
buildings 
£m 

Plant and 
equipment 
£m 

Fixtures 
and fittings 
£m 

Assets under
construction
£m 

153.6 
12.2 
(0.6)
1.6 

166.8 

166.8 
3.3 
(0.7)
– 

169.4 

44.4 
4.6 
– 
– 
(0.5)

48.5 

48.5 
4.9 
– 
– 
(0.3)

53.1 

109.2 

118.3 

118.3 

116.3 

155.4 
28.1 
(14.9)
0.5 

169.1 

169.1 
10.1 
(8.1)
1.9 

173.0 

90.1 
13.3 
0.5 
– 
(14.4)

89.5 

89.5 
14.3 
– 
– 
(7.4)

96.4 

65.3 

79.6 

79.6 

76.6 

321.6 
36.0 
(19.3)
– 

338.3 

338.3 
19.6 
(8.7)
– 

349.2 

167.1 
38.2 
0.4 
(0.6)
(17.3)

187.8 

187.8 
37.6 
5.9 
(0.7)
(7.5)

223.1 

154.5 

150.5 

150.5 

126.1 

2.0 
6.0 
– 
(2.1)

5.9 

5.9 
22.9 
– 
(1.9)

26.9 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

–

2.0 

5.9 

5.9 

26.9 

Total 
£m 

632.6 
82.3 
(34.8)
– 

680.1 

680.1 
55.9 
(17.5)
– 

718.5 

301.6 
56.1 
0.9 
(0.6)
(32.2)

325.8 

325.8 
56.8 
5.9 
(0.7)
(15.2)

372.6 

331.0 

354.3 

354.3 

345.9 

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS CONTINUED

12. Property, plant and equipment continued
Land and buildings
The carrying amount of land and buildings comprises:

Freehold property
Short leasehold property

13. Investments
Non–current investments
Parent Company

Cost

Balance at 30 December 2018, 29 December 2019 and 2 January 2021

Impairment

Balance at 30 December 2018, 29 December 2019 and 2 January 2021

Carrying amount

Balance at 30 December 2018, 28 December 2019, 29 December 2019 and 2 January 2021

Group

Parent Company

2020 
£m 

115.1 
1.0 

116.1 

2019 
£m 

116.9 
1.2 

118.1 

2020 
£m 

115.3 
1.0 

116.3 

2019 
£m 

117.1 
1.2 

118.3 

Shares in subsidiary 
undertakings 
£m 

5.8 

0.8

5.0 

149

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13. Investments continued
Non–current investments continued
The undertakings in which the Company’s interest at the year end is more than 20 per cent are as follows:

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
Solstice Zone A Management Company Limited

* 

held indirectly

1   Greggs House

 Quorum Business Park

 Newcastle upon Tyne

 NE12 8BU

2   Clydesmill Bakery

 75 Westburn Drive

 Clydesmill Estate

 Cambuslang

 Glasgow

 G72 7NA

Address of 
registered office

Proportion of 
voting rights and 
shares held

1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
3

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
28%

Principal activity

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

3  The Abbey

 Preston Road

 Yeovil

 Somerset

 BA20 2EN

Solstice Zone A Management Company Limited was not consolidated on the grounds of materiality.

The Company’s subsidiary undertakings listed above were all entitled to exemption, under subsections (1) and (2) of s480 of Companies Act 2006  
relating to dormant companies, from the requirement to have their accounts audited.

150

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14. Deferred tax assets and liabilities
Group
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following:

Property, plant and equipment
Employee benefits
Short-term temporary differences

Tax assets / (liabilities)

Assets

Liabilities

Net

2020
£m 

– 
5.5 
0.5 

6.0 

2019
£m 

– 
5.4 
0.7 

6.1 

2020 
£m 

(8.3)
– 
– 

(8.3)

2019 
Restated*
£m 

(8.5)
– 
– 

(8.5)

2020 
£m 

(8.3)
5.5 
0.5 

(2.3)

2019 
Restated*
£m 

(8.5)
5.4 
0.7 

(2.4)

*   Due to a change in accounting policy, there has been a prior year restatement of deferred tax balances. Further details of this change and its impact are given in the Basis of preparation on page 121.

As a result of this change in accounting policy the Group has a deferred tax asset of £5.7 million that is unrecognised at 2 January 2021 (28 December 2019: £5.7 million).

The movements in temporary differences during the 52 weeks ended 28 December 2019 were as follows:

Property, plant and equipment
Employee benefits
Short-term temporary differences

Balance at 
30 December 2018 
Restated
£m 

Recognised 
in income 
£m 

Recognised 
in equity 
£m 

Balance at 
28 December 2019 
Restated
£m 

(8.9)
3.2 
0.2 

(5.5)

0.4 
(0.1)
0.5 

0.8 

– 
2.3 
– 

2.3 

(8.5)
5.4 
0.7 

(2.4)

The movements in temporary differences during the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021 were as follows:

Property, plant and equipment
Employee benefits
Short-term temporary differences

151

Balance at 
29 December 2019 
Restated
£m 

Recognised 
in income 
£m 

Recognised 
in equity 
£m 

Balance at 
2 January 2021 
£m 

(8.5)
5.4 
0.7 

(2.4)

0.2 
(0.5)
(0.2)

(0.5)

– 
0.6 
– 

0.6 

(8.3)
5.5 
0.5 

(2.3)

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS CONTINUED

14. Deferred tax assets and liabilities continued
Parent Company
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following:

Property, plant and equipment
Employee benefits
Short-term temporary differences

Tax assets / (liabilities)

Assets

Liabilities

Net

2020 
£m 

– 
5.5 
0.5 

6.0 

2019 
£m 

– 
5.4 
0.7 

6.1 

2020 
£m 

(7.8)
– 
– 

(7.8)

2019 
Restated
£m 

(8.1)
– 
– 

(8.1)

2020 
£m 

(7.8)
5.5 
0.5 

(1.8)

2019 
Restated
£m 

(8.1)
5.4 
0.7 

(2.0)

The movements in temporary differences during the 52 weeks ended 28 December 2019 were as follows:

Property, plant and equipment
Employee benefits
Short-term temporary differences

Balance at 
30 December 2018 
Restated
£m 

Recognised 
in income 
£m 

Recognised 
in equity 
£m 

Balance at 
28 December 2019 
Restated
£m 

(8.5)
3.2 
0.2 

(5.1)

0.4 
(0.1)
0.5 

0.8 

– 
2.3 
– 

2.3 

(8.1)
5.4 
0.7 

(2.0)

The movements in temporary differences during the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021 were as follows:

Balance at 
29 December 2019 
Restated 
£m 

Recognised 
in income 
£m 

Recognised 
in equity 
£m 

Balance at 
2 January 2021 
£m 

(8.1)
5.4 
0.7 

(2.0)

0.3 
(0.5)
(0.2)

(0.4)

– 
0.6 
– 

0.6 

(7.8)
5.5 
0.5 

(1.8)

Property, plant and equipment
Employee benefits
Short-term temporary differences

152

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS CONTINUED

15. Inventories

Raw materials and consumables
Work in progress

Group and Parent Company

2020 
£m 

13.3 
9.2 

22.5 

2019 
£m 

19.4 
4.5 

23.9 

The write-down of inventories that was recognised as an expense in the period was £34.9 million (2019: £33.9 million).

16. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables
Other receivables
Prepayments

Group and Parent Company

2020 
£m 

22.0 
11.4 
6.0 

39.4 

At 2 January 2021 the allowance for bad debts was immaterial. Expected credit losses (‘ECLs’) on financial assets are not material.

The ageing of trade receivables that were not impaired at the balance sheet date was:

Not past due date
Past due 1-30 days
Past due 31-90 days
Past due over 90 days

Group and Parent Company

2020 
£m 

17.3 
3.9 
0.7 
0.1 

22.0 

2019 
£m 

15.8 
6.0 
5.3 

27.1 

2019 
£m 

14.5 
1.1 
0.2 
–

15.8 

The Group believes that all amounts that are past due by more than 30 days that have an immaterial allowance for ECLs are still collectable in full 
based on historic payment behaviour and extensive analysis of customer credit risk. Based on the Group’s monitoring of customer credit risk,  
the Group believes that no significant allowance for ECLs is necessary in respect of trade receivables not past due. 

153

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17.  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

18. Trade and other payables

Trade payables
Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings
Other taxes and social security
Other payables
Accruals 
Advance payments from customers
Deferred government grants

Group and Parent Company

2020 
£m 

36.8 

2019 
£m 

91.3 

Group

Parent Company

2020 
£m 

48.8 
– 
6.8 
17.4 
15.1 
2.5 
0.5 

91.1 

2019 
£m 

66.7 
– 
8.9 
31.9 
32.0 
2.3 
0.5 

142.3 

2020 
£m 

48.8 
7.7 
6.8 
17.4 
15.1 
2.5 
0.5 

98.8 

2019 
£m 

66.7 
7.7 
8.9 
31.9 
32.0 
2.3 
0.5 

150.0

In 2019 accruals and other payables included accruals of £27.0 million for performance-related remuneration. There are no similar accruals 
in 2020.

19. Current tax liability
The current tax liability of £0.0 million in the Group and the Parent Company (2019: Group and Parent Company £11.8 million) represents the 
estimated amount of income taxes payable in respect of current and prior years.

20. Non-current liabilities – other payables

Deferred government grants

Group and Parent Company

2020 
£m 

3.7

2019 
£m 

4.2 

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.

154

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21. Employee benefits
Defined benefit pension plan
Scheme background
The Company sponsors a funded final salary defined benefit pension plan (the ‘scheme’) for qualifying employees. The scheme was closed  
to future accrual in 2008 and all remaining employees who are still members of the scheme are now members of the Company’s defined 
contribution scheme.

The scheme is administered by a separate Board of Trustees which is legally separate from the Company. The Trustees are composed of 
representatives of both the employer and employees. The Trustees are required by law to act in the interest of all relevant beneficiaries and  
are responsible for the investment policy with regard to the assets plus the day-to-day administration of the benefits.

UK legislation requires that pension schemes are funded prudently. The last funding valuation of the Scheme was carried out by a qualified 
actuary as at 6 April 2017 and showed a surplus. The Company is currently not required to pay contributions into the scheme. 

Profile of the scheme
The defined benefit pension obligation includes benefits for former employees and current pensioners. Broadly, two-thirds of the liabilities  
are attributable to deferred members and one-third to current pensioners.

The scheme duration is an indicator of the weighted average time until benefit payments are made. For the scheme as a whole, the duration  
is approximately 18 years.

Investment strategy
The Company and Trustees have agreed a long-term strategy for reducing investment risk as and when appropriate. This includes a policy to hold 
sufficient cash and bond assets to cover the anticipated benefit payments for at least the next five years so as to improve the cashflow matching 
of the scheme’s assets and liabilities.

Defined benefit obligation
Fair value of plan assets

Net defined benefit pension liability

155

Group and Parent Company

2020 
£m 

(143.4)
131.5 

(11.9)

2019 
£m 

(127.6)
127.0 

(0.6)

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21. Employee benefits continued
Defined benefit pension plan continued
Liability for defined benefit pension obligations
Changes in the present value of the defined benefit pension obligation are as follows:

Opening defined benefit pension obligation
Past service costs
Interest cost
Remeasurement (gains) / losses:
  – changes in mortality assumptions
  – changes in financial assumptions
  – experience
Benefits paid

Closing defined benefit pension obligation

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

Opening fair value of plan assets
Net interest on plan assets
Remeasurement gains
Company special contribution
Benefits paid

Closing fair value of plan assets

The costs charged in the income statement are as follows:

Interest expense on net defined benefit pension liability

156

Group and Parent Company

2020 
£m 

127.6 
0.1 
2.5 

1.1 
19.2 
(3.4)
(3.7)

143.4 

2019 
£m 

113.5 
– 
3.1 

(0.9)
15.5 
–
(3.6)

127.6 

Group and Parent Company

2020 
£m 

127.0 
2.5 
5.7 
– 
(3.7)

131.5 

Group

2020 
£m 

– 

2019 
£m 

105.1 
2.9 
17.6 
5.0 
(3.6)

127.0 

2019 
£m 

0.2 

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS CONTINUED

21. Employee benefits continued
Defined benefit pension plan continued
The amounts recognised in other comprehensive income are as follows:

Remeasurement (losses) / gains on defined benefit pension plans

Group

2020
£m 

(11.2)

2019 
£m 

3.0 

Cumulative remeasurement gains and losses reported in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income since 28 December 2003,  
the transition date to adopted IFRSs, for the Group and the Parent Company are net losses of £31.3 million (2019: net losses of £20.1 million).

The fair value of the plan assets is as follows:

Equities  – UK

Bonds

– overseas

– corporate
– government

Absolute return funds
Cash and cash equivalents/other

Principal actuarial assumptions (expressed as weighted averages):

Discount rate
Future salary increases
Future pension increases
Rate of price inflation (RPI)

Rate of price inflation (CPI)

Group and Parent Company

2020
£m 

21.5 
50.1 

19.6 
31.8 
– 
8.5 

131.5 

2019 
£m 

46.5 
36.7 

12.7 
23.7 
1.1 
6.3 

127.0 

Group and Parent Company

2020 

2019 

1.25%
n/a 

1.95%
n/a 
1.8% – 2.3% 1.7% – 2.45%
2.95%

2.85%

2.25%

2.05%

In November 2020 the Government announced that RPI is to be aligned with CPIH (CPI with owner occupiers’ costs) from 2030. As a result the  
RPI assumption has been updated along with the assumed future gap between RPI and CPI.

157

STRATEGIC REPORTDIRECTORS’ REPORTACCOUNTSContinued on the next pageGreggs plcAnnual Report and Accounts 2020NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS CONTINUED

21. Employee benefits continued
Defined benefit pension plan continued
Mortality assumption
Mortality in retirement is assumed to be in line with the S2PXA tables using CMI_2019 projections and a long-term rate of 1.25 per cent per annum. 
Under these assumptions, pensioners aged 65 now are expected to live for a further 22.2 years (2019: 22.1 years) if they are male and 24.2 years 
(2019: 23.7 years) if they are female. Members currently aged 45 are expected to live for a further 23.6 years (2019: 23.5 years) from age 65 if they 
are male and for a further 25.7 years (2019: 25.2 years) from age 65 if they are female.

The sensitivities regarding the principal assumptions used to measure the scheme liabilities are set out below:

Discount rate
Discount rate
Inflation
Inflation

Mortality rates

Change in assumption

Impact on scheme liabilities

0.1% increase
0.5% increase
0.1% decrease
0.5% decrease

1 year increase

£2.6 million decrease
£12.9 million decrease
£1.6 million decrease
£8.2 million decrease

£5.3 million increase

If the commutation assumption were to be removed from the valuation the impact would be an increase in the scheme liabilities of £8.0 million.

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

A triennial valuation of the scheme took place in April 2017. The outcome of that valuation was considered by the Trustees and the Company and 
no requirement for future contributions was identified. The 2020 triennial valuation is ongoing. 

During 2019 the Company made a special contribution of £5.0 million in support of the strategy adopted by the Trustees to achieve a buy-out of 
liabilities within 10 years.

158

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21. Employee benefits continued
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 £24.9 million (2019: £22.6 million)  
in the year.

Share-based payments – Group and Parent Company
The Group has established a Savings-Related Share Option Scheme, an Executive Share Option Scheme and a Performance Share Plan.

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

Performance Share  
Plan 3

Date of grant
March 2012

Employees entitled
Senior 
executives

Exercise
price
£nil

Number of shares
granted
248,922

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 16

March 2013

Performance Share  
Plan 4

March 2013

Senior 
employees

Senior 
executives

480p

693,000

£nil

305,592

Performance Share  
Plan 5

March 2014

Senior 
executives

£nil

224,599

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 17

April 2014

Senior 
employees

500p

598,225

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 18

March 2015

Senior 
employees

1022p

298,045

Vesting conditions
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
Three years’ service and EPS growth  
of 3-7% over RPI on average over those 
three years
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
Three years’ service, EPS annual 
compound growth of 1-4% over  
RPI over those three years and  
average annual ROCE of 15.5-17%  
over those three years
Three years’ service and EPS growth  
of 1-4% over RPI on average over  
those three years
Three years’ service and EPS growth  
of 1-7% over RPI on average over  
those three years

Contractual life
10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

159

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21. Employee benefits continued
Share-based payments – Group and Parent Company continued

Date of grant

Employees entitled

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 18a

May 2015

Senior 
employee

Exercise
price

1056p

Number of shares
granted

3,285

Performance Share  
Plan 6

March 2015

Senior 
executives

£nil

146,174

Performance Share  
Plan 7

March 2016

Senior 
executives

£nil

133,271

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 19

April 2016

Senior 
employees

1088p

235,857

Savings-Related Share 
Option Scheme 17
Performance Share  
Plan 8

April 2016

All employees 870p

361,853

May 2017

Senior 
executives

£nil

206,404

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 20

April 2017

Senior 
employees

1033p

246,219

Savings-Related Share 
Option Scheme 18
Performance Share  
Plan 9

April 2017

All employees 807p

403,560

March 2018

Senior 
executives

£nil

190,943

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 21

March 2018

Senior 
employees

1197p

228,923

160

Savings-Related Share 
Option Scheme 19

April 2018

All employees 954p

335,482

Vesting conditions

Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
1-7% over RPI on average over those 
three years
Three years’ service, EPS annual 
compound growth of 1-7% over RPI over 
those three years and average annual 
ROCE of 19-21.5% over those three years
Three years’ service, EPS average 
annual growth of 2-8% over RPI over 
those three years and average annual 
ROCE of 22-27% over those three years
Three years’ service and EPS growth of 
2-8% over RPI on average over those 
three years
Three years’ service

Three years’ service, EPS average 
annual growth of 5-11% over those  
three years and average annual  
ROCE of 23-27% over those three years
Three years’ service and EPS growth  
of 5-11% on average over those  
three years
Three years’ service

Three years’ service, EPS average 
annual growth of 5-11% over those  
three years and average annual  
ROCE of 25-29% over those three years
Three years’ service and EPS growth  
of 5-11% on average over those  
three years
Three years’ service

Contractual life

10 years

10 years

10 years

10 years

3.5 years

10 years

10 years

3.5 years

10 years

10 years

3.5 years

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21. Employee benefits continued
Share-based payments – Group and Parent Company continued

Date of grant

Employees entitled

Performance Share  
Plan 10

April 2019

Senior 
executives

Exercise
price

£nil

Number of shares
granted

128,534

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 22

April 2019

Senior 
employees

1830p

140,913

Savings-Related Share 
Option Scheme 20
Savings-Related Share 
Option Scheme 21
Performance Share 
Plan 11

April 2019

All employees 1484p

230,604

April 2020

All employees 1424p

239,673

Three years’ service

October 2020 Senior 

£nil

166,366

executives

Executive Share Option 
Scheme 23

November  
2020

Senior 
employees

1720p

121,202

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

Exercisable at the end of the year

Vesting conditions

Three years’ service, EPS average 
annual growth of 5-11% over those  
three years and average annual ROCE  
of 24-28% over those three years
Three years’ service, EPS average 
annual growth of 5-11% over those  
three years and average annual ROCE  
of 24-28% over those three years
Three years’ service

Three years’ service, EPS performance 
in 2022, ROCE performance in 2022 and 
two strategic objectives
Three years’ service, EPS performance 
in 2022, ROCE performance in 2022 and 
two strategic objectives

Contractual life

10 years

10 years

3.5 years

3.5 years

10 years

10 years

2020

2019

Weighted average 

Weighted average 

exercise price Number of options

exercise price Number of options

781p
1203p
703p
1043p
607p

569p

2,342,496 
(87,654)
(429,086)
527,211 
2,352,967 

721,628 

690p
870p
697p
1200p
781p

546p

2,744,060 
(200,762)
(700,853)
500,051 
2,342,496 

423,556 

The options outstanding at 2 January 2021 have an exercise price in the range of £nil to £18.30 and have a weighted average contractual life of 
5.36 years. The options exercised during the year had a weighted average market value of £17.61 (2019: £20.13). 

161

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21. Employee benefits continued
Share-based payments – Group and Parent Company continued 
The fair value of services received in return for share options granted is 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 for all Savings-Related Share Option Schemes 
and Executive Share Option Schemes and for Performance Share Plan options granted from 2014 onwards. The fair value per option granted and 
the assumptions used in these calculations are as follows:

Fair value at grant date
Share price
Exercise price
Expected volatility
Option life
Expected dividend yield

Risk-free rate

2020

2019

Performance 
Share Plan 11
October 2020

Executive Share 
Option Scheme 23
November 2020

Savings-Related 
Share Option 
Scheme 21
April 2020

Performance 
Share Plan 10
April 2019

Executive Share 
Option Scheme 22
April 2019

Savings-Related 
Share Option 
Scheme 20
April 2019

1325p
1407p
Nil
45.81%
3 years
2.00%

493p
1720p
1720p
48.43%
3 years
2.00%

(0.05%)

(0.04%)

519p
1780p
1424p
38.02%
3 years
2.52%

0.12%

1726p
1830p
Nil
28.06%
3 years
1.95%

0.75%

307p
1830p
1830p
28.06%
3 years
1.95%

0.75%

469p
1855p
1484p
28.07%
3 years
1.92%

0.64%

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.

The costs charged/(credited) to the income statement relating to share-based payments were as follows:

Share options granted in 2016
Share options granted in 2017
Share options granted in 2018
Share options granted in 2019
Share options granted in 2020

Total expense recognised as employee costs

162

2020 
£m 

– 
0.2 
(0.2)
0.5 
0.4 

0.9 

2019 
£m 

0.3 
1.9 
1.5 
0.7 
– 

4.4

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22. Provisions

Balance at start of year
Additional provision in the year:

Ordinary
Exceptional
Utilised in year:

Ordinary
Exceptional

Provisions reversed during the year:

Ordinary
Exceptional

Balance at end of year
Included in current liabilities
Included in non-current liabilities

2020 
Dilapidations 
£m 

2.3 

1.2 
– 

(0.1)
– 

(0.7)
– 
2.7 
1.4 
1.3 

2.7 

2020 
National 
Insurance 
£m 

2020
Redundancy
£m 

2.3 

1.1 

– 
– 

(0.2)
– 

(0.6)
– 
1.5 
1.4 
0.1 

1.5 

10.6 
0.2 

(9.4)
(0.8)

(0.7)
(0.1)
0.9 
0.7 
0.2 

0.9 

2020
Other
£m

1.7 

2.1 
– 

(0.4)
– 

(1.1)
– 
2.3 
0.9 
1.4 

2.3 

The provisions at the end of the year relate to ordinary or exceptional activity as follows:

Ordinary
Exceptional

2.5 
0.2 

2.7 

1.5 
– 

1.5 

0.8 
0.1 

0.9 

2.1 
0.2 

2.3 

6.9 
0.5 

7.4 

Group and Parent Company

2020 
Total 
£m 

2019 
Dilapidations 
£m 

7.4 

2.8 

13.9 
0.2 

(10.1)
(0.8)

(3.1)
(0.1)
7.4 
4.4 
3.0 

7.4 

2019 
National 
Insurance 
£m 

2019
Redundancy
£m 

0.8 

2.1 
– 

(0.6)
– 

– 
– 
2.3 
1.7 
0.6 

2.3 

2.3 
– 

2.3 

3.5 

0.8 
0.7 

(0.5)
(3.4)

– 
– 
1.1 
1.1 
– 

1.1 

0.3 
0.8 

1.1 

2019
Other
£m

2.3 

– 
– 

(0.1)
– 

(0.5)
–
1.7 
1.5 
0.2 

1.7 

1.5 
0.2 

1.7 

2019 
Total 
£m 

9.4 

4.0 
0.7 

(1.6)
(3.4)

(1.5)
(0.2)
7.4 
5.8 
1.6 

7.4 

6.2 
1.2 

7.4 

1.1 
– 

(0.4)
– 

(1.0)
(0.2)
2.3 
1.5 
0.8 

2.3 

2.1 
0.2 

2.3 

Dilapidation provisions have been made based on the future expected repair costs required to restore the Group’s leased buildings to their fair 
condition at the end of their respective lease terms, where it is considered a reliable estimate can be made.

National insurance costs are provided in respect of future share options exercises.

Other provisions are largely in respect of onerous costs relating to closed shops where the lease has not yet expired.

The majority of all of the provisions are expected to be utilised within four years such that the impact of discounting would not be material.

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23. Capital and reserves
Share capital 

In issue and fully paid at start of year – ordinary shares of 2p 
Issued on exercise of share options

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

Ordinary shares

2020 
Number 

2019 
Number 

101,155,901 
270,137 

101,155,901 
– 

101,426,038

101,155,901

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 the year 270,137 shares were issued as a result of the exercise of vested options granted to senior management under the Executive 
Share Option Scheme and the exercise of options under the Savings-Related Share Option Scheme. Options were exercised at an average price 
of £8.23.

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 £39.0 million (2019: £39.9 million) 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 227,965 shares (2019: 406,357 shares)  
with a market value at 2 January 2021 of £4.1 million (2019: £9.3 million) which have not vested unconditionally in employees. During the year the 
Trust purchased 25,600 (2019: 547,713) shares for an aggregate consideration of £0.5 million (2019: £11.8 million) and sold 203,992 (2019: 702,222) 
shares for an aggregate consideration of £1.5 million (2019: £4.9 million).

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 Scheme 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.

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23. Capital and reserves continued
Dividends
The following tables analyse dividends when paid and the year to which they relate:

2018 final dividend
2019 interim dividend
2019 special dividend
2019 final dividend

2020 
Per share 
pence 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

The final declared dividend of 33.0p in respect of 2019 was cancelled as a cash preservation measure in response to the Covid-19 crisis.  
No dividends have been declared in respect of 2020.

2018 final dividend
2019 interim dividend
2019 special dividend
2019 final dividend

2020 
£m 

– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

2019 
Per share 
pence 

25.0p
11.9p
35.0p
– 

71.9p

2019 
£m 

25.3 
12.0 
35.3 
– 

72.6 

24. Capital commitments
During the 53 weeks ended 2 January 2021, the Group entered into contracts to purchase property, plant and equipment and intangible assets  
for £8.5 million (2019: £35.7 million) which are expected to be settled in the following financial year.

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25. Related parties
Identity of related parties
The Group has a related-party relationship with its subsidiaries (see Note 13), Directors and executive officers and pension schemes.

Trading transactions with subsidiaries – Group
There have been no transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries or associates during the year (2019: none).

Trading transactions with subsidiaries – Parent Company

Dormant subsidiaries

Amounts owed to related parties

Amounts owed by related parties

2020 
£m 

7.8 

2019 
£m 

7.8 

2020 
£m 

– 

2019 
£m 

– 

The Greggs Foundation is also a related party and during the year the Company made a donation to the Greggs Foundation of £1.1 million 
(2019: £1.3 million), as well as passing on £0.3 million (2019: £0.4 million) raised from the sale of carrier bags and £0.2 million (2019: £0.3 million) 
raised from the sale of products. The Greggs Foundation holds 300,000 shares in Greggs plc and Richard Hutton, a Director of Greggs plc, is a 
trustee of the Greggs Foundation.

Transactions with key management personnel
Details of Directors’ shareholdings, share options, emoluments, pension benefits and other non-cash benefits can be found in the Directors’ 
remuneration report on pages 79 to 101. Summary information on remuneration of key management personnel is included in Note 5. 

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Greggs plc 
Ten-year history

Turnover (£m)
Total sales growth/(decline) 
Company-managed shop like-for-like 

sales growth/(decline)

Profit/(loss) before tax (PBT) 

excluding exceptional items (£m)
PBT margin excluding exceptional 

2011

701.1
5.8%

2012 
(as restated)2

734.5
4.8% 

2013

762.4
3.8% 

2014
(as restated)1,3

806.1
5.7%

20151

835.7
3.7%

2016

894.2
7.0%

2017

960.0
7.4%

2018

1,029.3
7.2%

20195

1,167.9
13.5%

2020 1

811.3 
(30.5%)

1.4%

(2.7%)

(0.8%)

4.5% 

4.7%

4.2%

3.7%

2.9%

9.2%

(36.2%)

53.1

50.9

41.3

58.3

73.1

80.3

81.7

89.8

114.2

(12.9)

items

7.6%

6.9%

5.4%

7.2%

8.7%

9.0%

8.5%

8.7%

9.8%

(15.9%)

Pre-tax exceptional credit/(charge) 

(£m)

7.4 

1.4 

(8.1)

(8.5)

– 

(5.2)

(9.9)

(7.2)

(5.9)

(0.8)

Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities 

including exceptional items and 

before tax (£m)

60.5 

52.4 

33.2 

49.7 

73.0

75.1

71.9

82.6

108.3

(13.7)

Diluted earnings per share excluding 

exceptional items (pence)
Dividend per share (pence) 
Total shareholder return
Capital expenditure (£m)
Return on capital employed (excluding 

38.8
19.3
13.0%
59.1 

38.3
19.5
(6.1%)
46.9 

30.6
19.5
0.6%
47.6 

43.4
22.0
69.7%
48.9 

55.8
48.64
87.1%
71.7

60.8
31.0
(23.8%)
80.4

63.5
32.3
47.5%
70.4

70.3
35.7
(7.4%)
73.0

89.7
46.96
87.5%
86.0

(12.9)
–
(22.0%)
58.7

exceptional items) 

24.4%

21.3%

16.4%

22.4%

26.8%

28.1%

26.9%

27.4%

20.0%

(2.4%)

Number of shops in operation at 

year end

1,571 

1,671 

1,671 

1,650 

1,698

1,764

1,854

1,953

2,050

2,078

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 

2014 and 2020 were 53 week years, impacting on total sales growth for that year and the year immediately following
restated following the adoption of IAS 19 (Revised)
restated to include revenue in respect of franchise fit-out costs
includes a special dividend of 20.0p paid in 2015. 
IFRS 16 leases was implemented at the start of the financial year using the modified retrospective approach. Prior year comparatives have not been restated.
Includes a special dividend of 35.0p. The final dividend declared in respect of 2019 was cancelled as a cash preservation measure during the Covid-19 crisis

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Calculation of alternative performance measures
All of the non-GAAP measures detailed above can be calculated from the GAAP measures included in the annual accounts with the exception  
of those detailed below. 

Like-for-like (LFL) sales growth – compares year-on-year cash sales in our company-managed shops, with a calendar year’s trading history  
and is calculated as follows:

Current year LFL sales
Prior year LFL sales
(Decline)/growth

LFL sales (decline)/growth percentage

2020
£m

665.2 
1,042.2
(377.0)

(36.2%)

2019
£m

987.8 
904.7 
83.1

9.2%

Return on capital employed – calculated by dividing profit before tax by the average total assets less current liabilities for the year.

(Loss)/profit before tax
Capital employed:

Opening
Closing
Average

Return on capital employed

2020
£m

(13.7)

580.1 
589.8 
584.9 

(2.3%)

2019
Underlying
£m

114.2 

559.3 
580.1 
569.7 

20.0%

2019
Including 
exceptional items
£m

108.3

559.3 
580.1 
569.7 

19.0%

Net cash inflow from operating activities after lease payments – calculated by deducting the repayment of principle of lease liabilities from net 
cash flow from operating activities

Net cash inflow from operating activities 
Repayment of principle of lease liabilities

Net cash inflow from operating activities after lease payments

2020
£m

43.6 
(42.1)

1.5 

2019
£m

219.1 
(49.6)

169.5 

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DIRECTORS’ REPORT

ACCOUNTS

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SECRETARY AND ADVISERS

Secretary
Jonathan D Jowett, LL.M. Solicitor

Registered Office
Greggs House  
Quorum Business Park
Newcastle upon Tyne 
NE12 8BU

Registered number
502851

Bankers
Barclays Bank plc
Barclays House
5 St Ann’s Street
Quayside
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 3DX

Auditors
KPMG LLP
Quayside House
110 Quayside
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 3DX

Stockbrokers
UBS
5 Broadgate Circle
London
EC2M 2QS

Investec
2 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7QP

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

Linklaters LLP
One Silk Street
London
EC2Y 8HQ

Registrars
Link Group
10th Floor
Central Square
29 Wellington Street
Leeds
LS1 4DL

The outer cover of this report has been 
laminated with a biodegradable film. 
Around 20 months after composting,  
an additive within the film will initiate  
the process of oxidation.

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169

 
 
 
 
 
Greggs plc  
Company Registered Number 502851 

corporate.greggs.co.uk