Greggs opens first branch abroad at holiday hotspot loved by Brits

Greggs has officially gone international and reportedly opened its very first airport location outside of the UK just in time for the summer season. The British bakery giant has launched a brand new store at Tenerife South Airport in the Canary Islands. Covering 197 square metres the store is expected to attract thousands of travellers passing through the airport every day.

Holidaymakers can choose from a range of Greggs favourites, such as its well-known sausage rolls, while also offering items designed to cater to local tastes and the needs of international travellers passing through with the Spanish Omelette Breakfast Roll, Blueberry Muffin and freshly squeezed bottled orange juice being new additions to the menu. Tenerife South Airport is one of the busiest airports in Spain, welcoming more than 14 million passengers last year. Around 5.5 million of those travellers came from the UK, making British visitors the airport’s largest customer group.

The new branch, which opened on Canary Islands Day on June 1, is located in Terminal A after security and close to a key departure route used by passengers travelling back to Britain, Travel Retail Business reports.

The site has a capacity of up to 92 seats. The new store is being launched with Lagardere Travel Retail, which operates more than 5,000 travel outlets worldwide.

This marks the chain’s first venture outside the UK since closing their Belgium locations in 2008.

Greggs CEO, Roisin Currie, said: “Tenerife South Airport is a hub for millions of UK and international passengers each year, making it the ideal location to test spreading our wings in an overseas setting.

“It’s an exciting milestone for Greggs as we bring a slice of home to the Canaries, and we’re confident our great-value offering will resonate just as well under the Spanish sun as it does on the UK high street.”

CEO of Lagardere Travel Retail Spain and Portugal, Javier Cagigal, said: “As passengers head home, this new opening gives them a familiar, comforting choice in departures, whether that’s a last treat, a relaxed sit-down moment or something to ease the journey home.”

Lagardère Travel Retail VP Dining Christine Bony also said: “We are delighted to begin our partnership with Greggs at Tenerife South Airport. This opening illustrates how we work with High Street brands with strong consumer recognition to support their international development in travel environments.

“By combining passenger insights, location dynamics and our global footprint, we are able to identify the right concepts and create the conditions for them to reach an international audience.”