AGM Statement

Greggs PLC
17 May 2005

                                                                     17 May 2005


                                   GREGGS plc
                            CHAIRMAN'S AGM STATEMENT

Greggs plc is the UK's leading retailer specialising in sandwiches, savouries
and other bakery products, with a particular focus on takeaway food and
catering.  It has over 1,250 retail outlets throughout the UK, trading under the
Greggs and Bakers Oven brands.


At the Annual General Meeting held in Newcastle upon Tyne today, the Chairman
Derek Netherton said:


"We have made an encouraging start to the year, despite the generally
disappointing retail market place and its consequences for high street footfall.
  Group like-for-like sales in the 19 weeks to 14 May 2005 have grown by 5.8%,
compared with the increase of 5.2% that we reported in our preliminary results
announcement for the period to mid-March.  The recent improvement in performance
partly reflects comparison with a period of poorer weather last year.


So far this year we have opened 19 new shops and closed two, making a net
addition of 17 units to a Group total of 1,280.  We are confident of meeting our
target to increase the pace of shop openings this year, and expect to add at
least a net 45 shops to our estate by the end of 2005.


From this point last year we enjoyed considerably stronger like-for-like sales
growth than in the first 19 weeks, as we benefited from the successful Greggs
brand relaunch and generally favourable weather.  This in turn creates more
testing comparatives in the months ahead.  We also face further inflationary
pressures in the second half, notably a further substantial rise in energy
costs.


Despite these factors, I look forward to reporting a very satisfactory
performance when we announce our interim results in August, and continue to
believe that the Group is well equipped to make progress over the year as a
whole."



ENQUIRIES:
Greggs plc                                        gcg hudson sandler
Sir Michael Darrington, Managing Director         James Hill / Wendy Baker
Malcolm Simpson, Financial Director               Tel: [phone]
Tel: [phone]                                keithhann.communications
                                                  Keith Hann   Tel: [phone]




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