Greggs adds new low-calorie salads to its summer menu as healthy eating boosts sales

GREGGS has unveiled a new range of salads as low-calorie options prove popular with customers.

The high street bakery chain – which is best known for its sausage rolls and sweet treats – claims that it “healthy” menu now accounts for more than ten per cent of sales.

Last week, it reported that total sales have gone up by 7.5 per cent in the first 19 weeks of 2017, compared to 5.7 per cent in the same time last year.

Today, it has launched a new salad range including a coconut, lime and chili chicken salad and a cheese , tomato and basil pasta salad.

All the new menu options are under 400 calories and cost £3 each.

Greggs first unveiled a new “healthy” menu in August last year when it added salads, yogurt pots, low-calorie sandwiches and flatbreads to its shelves under the Balance Choice brand name.

It was part of a plan to attract new customers and in January it claimed that it enjoyed a strong end to 2016 due to the additions.

A spokesperson for Greggs said: “More and more people are looking for a healthier option for their on-the-go food.”

But it might be a while before all its customers completely shun calorie-loaded pastry favourites.

In March, Greggs’ boss said that it sold more sausage rolls last year than any other items, while its frothy Italian latte coffee was the third bestseller.

In February, the chain opened its first ever “healthy” shop in New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton.

It focuses on selling soups, salads and porridge pots, rather than pastry favourites.