Greggs fans will soon notice their favourite treats costing more next week. The popular high street bakery has confirmed another round of price increases, the second time this year. This new bump in prices come following the 5p rise in January, which pushed the cost of a sausage roll to £1.30 nationwide. Though the sausage roll is expected to stay at this price for now, other popular items like cookies and doughnuts may see a similar 5p rise starting Thursday.
The price increases may be linked to a rise in shoplifting, with the Bishopsgate branch in London allegedly experiencing thefts as frequently as once an hour, The Sun reported. One Greggs staff member told the publication: “The amount of people who steal from the stores costs us thousands a week — so it wouldn’t surprise me if part of the price rises is because of that. It’s not the company’s fault, it’s just the way things are now. Plenty of other places have had to put up prices as well.”
Greggs itself, however, has not officially linked the price changes to theft.
A spokesperson told The Sun: “We have had to make small changes to the prices of some of our products due to rising costs. We continue to offer our customers great value, high-quality products across the entire range, maintaining our value-leading position in the food-to-go market.”
At one Greggs store in Southwark, London, staff have reportedly had to physically secure the drinks fridge with a D-lock in an attempt to deter thieves, LBC reported.
A video shared on social media shows a team member locking up the fridge after allowing a customer to retrieve a drink.
The video sparked debate online, with some criticising the lack of formal security, while others praised the company for taking action.
Another store in West Norwood, South London, has also reportedly secured its drinks fridge with a red bike lock to deter shoplifters.
The number of recorded shoplifting offences has never been higher in England and Wales.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), police in England and Wales recorded 516,971 shoplifting offences in 2024, marking a 20% increase from the year before and the highest number since modern records began in 2003.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) estimates that theft now costs UK retailers more than £2.2 billion annually.