Greggs rules out Oxford city centre bakery - for now

Market traders at Gloucester Green said they had been told the chain, which recently started selling vegan sausage rolls, was due to occupy a unit at Gloucester Green left empty after El Mexicana restaurant and Combibos Coffee Shop closed.

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But the chain, which has shops across Oxfordshire, including those in London Road, Headington and in Templars Square, Cowley, says it has no immediate plans for a new store in the city centre.

The statement came even though the chain is advertising online for new team leaders and other staff in Oxford.

A member of staff at the London Road shop said: "I had heard that Greggs wanted to open a new shop in Cornmarket near McDonald's but has not yet managed to sign a contract. We think a store will open in the centre of Oxford but we don't know when."

A Greggs spokeswoman said there were no plans at the moment for a new bakery in the city centre.

She added: "There aren’t any plans at the moment, please see statement below confirming this: A Greggs spokesperson said: "Although we’re always looking at potential locations to open new shops, there are no current plans to open a shop in Oxford.”

Greggs started out in Gosforth, Newcastle, 75 years ago and has been growing ever since.

There are now more than 1,700 shops nationwide including two in Abingdon - one in the Bury Street precinct and one at the Spar, part of the Esso garage in Marcham Road.

Greggs employs 20,000 staff nationwide and says it is still growing.

The firm expected pre-tax profits for the full 2018 financial year to be at least £88m as sales over the 52 weeks to December 29 rose 7.2 per cent, driven by growth in newer categories such as breakfast and vegan-friendly food as well as classic bakes.

NewRiver, which owns the units which were occupied by El Mexicana and Combibos Coffee, has not yet commented.