Speaker Q&A (2017): Roger Whiteside, Greggs
Roger Whiteside, CEO of Greggs, appeared in a Keynote interview at lunch! 2017. One of the biggest names in the UK’s food-to-go market, his 37+ years’ experience in the industry includes top jobs at Marks & Spencer (head of food), Ocado (joint-MD), Punch Taverns and Threshers (CEO), and, since 2013, CEO of Greggs; which now operates over 1,750 outlets.
How has the food-to-go sector changed in the last ten years?
We have seen a revolution in food-to-go, as retailers look to meet growing demand for convenient food and drink amongst time pressured consumers. Fast food operators have broadened and improved their offer, with new formats springing up all over the country. Supermarket convenience stores have grown rapidly with food-to-go as a key traffic driver. Thousands of coffee shops pander to our love affair with coffee, and specialist food operators, like Greggs, have adapted their offer to meet growing demand for food out of the home. Not to mention new concepts coming and going, as innovation flows through the sector in search of the next big thing.
What do you see as trends for the future of food-to-go?
Food on the go has a bright future, with competition driving ever higher expectations from consumers. Great tasting food offering value for money is what we all want, but now we want all types of food options ordered anyway we like and available wherever we are.
What does the future hold for Greggs?
We have big ambitions to make Greggs the customers’ favourite for food-on-the-go, so that means more food choices and more ways to shop with fast and friendly service.
What’s your biggest seller at the moment?
Our biggest sellers are still our traditional bakery favourites but alongside these we are growing fast in Coffee and Breakfast, Balanced Choice and hot food options.
Can you tell us a little bit about your much-anticipated session at lunch! 2017?
Greggs has been transformed in recent years to become a winning brand in food on the go – join me at lunch! to hear more about that journey and the opportunities that lie ahead.
Describe the lunch! trade show in 3 words?
Current, relevant, stimulating.
How important does lunch! continue to be to your business?
lunch! offers an excellent opportunity to meet other business professionals from across the food-to-go industry and see first-hand some of the new and innovative ideas emerging in our sector.
