Greggs, the leading UK food-on-the-go retailer with over 2,000 sites, has reported its fourth quarter financials and revealed plans for 2021.
Over the quarter as a whole, total sales were £293m (2019: £344m) and company-managed shop like-for-like sales averaged 81.1% of the 2019 level.
In the five weeks to 31 October, we saw a further improvement in the level of like-for- like sales in company-managed shops, averaging 80.1% of that seen in 2019. In the four weeks to 28 November, with more restricted trading conditions, the level of like- for-like sales in company-managed shops averaged 76.7% of that seen in 2019.
Trading in December was initially more robust, supported by the reopening of non- essential retail shops, although this fell back with the introduction of tighter restrictions later in the month. In the five weeks to 2 January, like-for-like sales in company- managed shops averaged 85.7% of the 2019 level.
As previously communicated, in order to reflect below-normal activity levels we completed an employee consultation programme in the quarter. The consultation process minimised the number of job losses but, unfortunately, still resulted in 820 redundancies.
Gregg's digital offer continues to develop and the rollout of itsnational delivery offer, in partnership with Just Eat, is supporting the recovery in sales levels. In the fourth quarter of the year delivery represented 5.5% of company-managed shop sales. 600 of its shops now provide delivery services to catchments served by Just Eat and it expects this to increase to around 800 shops in 2021.
During the year, the chain 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 its partners.
the company ended the 2020 financial year with a net cash position of £37m, having repaid monies due to the Bank of England under our CCFF facility. In place of this funding it has now put in place a three-year, £100m Revolving Credit Facility with a syndicate of lending banks.
Throughout this crisis Government support has been essential in order to minimise the number of job losses caused by lower levels of demand and to contain losses in the business, which the group now believes are likely to be up to £15m before taxation for the year as a whole.
Looking ahead, the significant uncertainty over the duration of social restrictions, along with the impact of higher unemployment levels, makes it difficult to predict performance. However, it does not expect that profits will return to pre-COVID levels until 2022 at the earliest.
As the firm enters 2021, Greggs is maintaining a strong financial position for the benefit of all its stakeholders, whilst developing new ways for customers to shop with us through digital channels and estate growth. It has a strong pipeline of new shop opportunities and expect to open around 100 net new stores in the year ahead, subject to prevailing market conditions.
Chief Executive Roger Whiteside commented, “In a year like no other I am enormously proud of the way in which our team has risen to the challenges we have faced, whilst looking after the interests of all stakeholders and providing support for communities.
'Whilst the impact of COVID-19 has been enormous, we have established working practices that allow us to provide takeaway food services under the different levels of restrictions we have experienced. The breadth of Greggs' customer base provides ongoing demand for our services which, combined with our diverse geographical spread, has demonstrated the resilience of our business.
'With customers spending more time at home we have successfully developed our partnership with Just Eat to offer delivery services and have also seen strong sales through our longstanding partnership with Iceland, offering our products for home baking. We have resumed opening new shops where we see good opportunities, with those sites accessed by car performing particularly well.
'In light of the recent Government announcements significant uncertainties remain in the near-term. We have taken action to position Greggs to withstand further short- term shocks and are optimistic about our prospects for growth once social restrictions are lifted. I want to thank everyone who has supported Greggs through 2020.”