Greggs to make 800 job cuts

Greggs has announced plans to cut over 800 jobs from its UK sites, as a result of trading difficulties due to Covid-19. 

This month, chief executive Roger Whiteside issued a statement on the company employee information site revealing that recent weeks have been “particularly difficult” for the chain and the team has held “individual meetings”  with colleagues to provide “confirmation of redundancies.”

Whiteside, who manages the operation of 2,000 Greggs sites, added that Covid-19 trading conditions “forced this action onto our business” and the company is “very saddened by the need to part company with around 820 friends and colleagues, many of whom have worked with us for many years.”

In September the chain warned of possible job cuts after the business reported that activity levels “remained below normal”. It follows news by fellow high street coffee shop Caffe Nero that it has entered into a CVA “to safeguard the future of the business.”  

A spokesperson for Greggs told Catering Today that the company had been working on a “number of initiatives”  with employees including asking staff to work reduced hours, in order to “protect as many jobs as possible.”

However they confirmed that “unfortunately 800 jobs roles will have to go”. 

Executives at Greggs have declined to give a comment at this time.