It seems hard to imagine, now that it is a presence on every high street and much-loved by pop stars and ordinary punters alike, but Greggs was not in great shape when current chief executive Roger Whiteside took over in 2013.
At the time the company was losing its main market - bread and other baked goods - to the major supermarket chains and had become a byword for the unhealthy food that was fuelling the 海角视频’s obesity crisis.
Eight years on, Mr Whiteside has announced he is retiring to be replaced by one of his key executives, retail and property director Roisin Currie.
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She will take on a company that has become a cult hit on social media, namechecked by film stars and musicians, and setting its sights on levels of expansion never seen before, despite major challenges presented during the Covid pandemic.
Those plans were outlined by Mr Whiteside at the end of last year when he described how Greggs was looking to have 3,000 shops (the 2,000-mark having been passed during his tenure), opening at a rate of around 150 a year, up from its current rate of around 100. Greggs is also looking to expand its delivery partnership with JustEat and the customer loyalty scheme it operates through its app, as well as opening more in the evenings and investigating a push into Europe.
To have such ambitious plans at a time when many companies in retail are either struggling or going out of business altogether is testament to Mr Whiteside’s leadership and the decision taken early on to switch from being a traditional baker to becoming a ‘food-on-the-go’ operator, that is as much about coffee and sandwiches as its traditional loaves and sausage rolls.
There have also been zeitgeist-catching moves into healthy eating and then vegan food, with launches for its vegan sausage rolls and other items catching national attention through clever marketing.
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Mr Whiteside - who was named North East Business Executive of the Year in 2019 as a result of his achievements - was typically keen to share out credit for his turnaround of the business when asked about it today.
He said: “The business set out on a journey when I took over that took us on a new course to become a favourite in food-on-the-go. The business has been transformed in that time from what we do in our shops to how we supply them. The level of investment has been huge and every aspect of the business has been transformed in that time.
“The bit I would highlight most is how great the team has been in keeping up with that change but also maintaining the culture of the business.
“Greggs has been around for a long time and customers have grown to love it and trust it over years and decades. It always had a fantastic reputation for great value and quality, and for fast, fantastic and friendly service. We’ve managed to maintain that while growing the company. The danger when you’re growing is that you lose those special elements but we tried to make sure we didn’t do that.
“We’ve got so much growth ahead of us. We’ve got a target of 3,000 shops, we’re going multichannel and we’re going into the evening, plus we want to get involved in a much more serious way with customer loyalty through our app. The question is whether we can do all that and keep it being Greggs? That’s what our brand challenge is all about.”
Greggs longstanding values are well-known in the North East through its breakfast clubs and other charitable ventures. Last year it published a 10-point plan to help make the world a better place through iniatives such as reducing food waste, increasing healthy food options and opening more outlet stores in poorer areas.
And despite the challenges of the pandemic - which saw it report its first loss as a listed company and having to make hundreds of staff redundant - it has bounced back after the easing of lockdowns and today thanked staff by bringing forward a pay rise by five months.
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The importance of the company’s culture is perhaps one of the reasons for an internal appointment to replace Mr Whiteside. Ms Currie has worked for Greggs for more than a decade and currently holds what the outgoing CEO describes as “the biggest job” in the company. She is also a trustee of Greggs’ charitable foundation.
She has been described as a “great leader” by Mr Whiteside while Greggs’ chairman Ian Durant said she had “deep experience of our culture and our strategic plan, and will lead with energy and character.”
But she will know too that Mr Whiteside will be a tough act to follow, with his departure seeing tribute paid to him by a number of North East business leaders.
John McCabe, chief executive of the North East England Chamber of Commerce, said: “Roger Whiteside is a fantastic example of an inspirational and innovative leader who, together with his Greggs’ team, has generated business growth on a huge, positive trajectory.
“A couple of years ago we were fortunate enough to hear him speak to our members about his journey and approach of empowering people, which has paid such dividends. He will be much missed but leaves Greggs in the best possible shape for his successor Roisin Currie and we wish her the best of luck.”
Sarah Glendinning, regional director of the CBI, said: “Roger Whiteside has led the talented executive team from the front, evolving Greggs into the modern, values-driven business it is today. He will be a tough act to follow as CEO, but the appointment of Roisin Currie as his successor is a fabulous choice.
“Roisin knows Greggs inside out after more than a decade with the company, and has proven herself an inspirational leader. She will approach this challenge with the vision and integrity she has shown throughout her career to-date, and I have no doubt further success lies ahead. Greggs remains in superb hands.”
As for Mr Whiteside’s next step, he insists his retirement will be very much a break from the world of business.
“The time had to come eventually,” he said. “I’ve always said I wanted to retire before 65, so I’ll be 64 and a half by the time I leave, so I’ve just about made it.
“I’m going to go through a full retirement and spend the rest of my days with friends and family and doing things that I really love doing.
“You won’t see me going plural (becoming a non-executive) or doing any chairmanships. I’ve kept my options open thinking about it, but at the end of the day, I’ve got so many other things I want to do.
“I spent most of my life doing business things and I’d like to spend the final chapter - adventure before dementia, that’s what I say.”