British bakery giant Greggs is taking its first step back into international expansion after nearly two decades, with the launch of a new outlet at Tenerife South Airport in Spain later this month. The move marks the company’s first overseas opening since it exited Belgium in 2008 and could serve as a testing ground for broader international growth ambitions.
The new store, located in the international departures area of Tenerife South Airport, is being developed in partnership with travel retail specialist Lagardère Travel Retail. The airport handles approximately 13 million passengers annually, with around half travelling between the UK and the Canary Islands, making it a strategically attractive location for Greggs to assess demand beyond its domestic market.
The opening represents a significant milestone for the Newcastle-founded bakery chain, which has spent the last 18 years focused exclusively on expanding its UK footprint. Today, Greggs operates more than 2,700 shops across the UK and continues to target long-term growth to more than 3,000 locations nationwide.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, Greggs Chief Executive Officer 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.” She added that the launch is “an exciting milestone for Greggs” and expressed confidence that the brand’s value-focused proposition would resonate with consumers in Spain just as it does in the UK.
The Tenerife outlet will offer Greggs’ core menu of sausage rolls, steak bakes, sandwiches and sweet treats, while introducing several products tailored to the local market. New additions include a Spanish Omelette Breakfast Roll and freshly squeezed orange juice bottled daily in-store, designed to reflect local tastes while maintaining the brand’s familiar identity.
The store will feature seating for up to 92 customers and is expected to target holidaymakers seeking familiar and affordable food options before returning to the UK. Greggs has promoted the location as offering one of the most competitively priced breakfast deals within the airport.
For Greggs, the partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail provides immediate access to an established international travel-retail network. The operator manages more than 5,000 outlets across airports, railway stations and travel hubs in over 50 countries, reducing operational risk for Greggs as it tests overseas expansion.
Commenting on the collaboration, Javier Cagigal said the opening would provide travellers with “a familiar, comforting choice” as they head home, whether for a quick snack or a relaxed meal before departure.
The international move comes as Greggs continues an ambitious domestic growth programme. The company has been investing in new manufacturing capacity, including additional production facilities, while maintaining plans to significantly expand its UK store estate over the coming years.
With a strong domestic brand, an expanding franchise presence and now a renewed international strategy, Greggs’ Tenerife debut could mark the beginning of a new chapter for one of Britain’s most recognisable food-to-go brands.
