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Workers at Greggs are to be rewarded for a ‘phenomenal year’ with a share of a £7million ‘special bonus’, which saw sales jump by more than 13 per cent.

The country’s biggest bakery chain boosted sales and profits in 2019 after the hugely successful launch of its vegan sausage roll.

“Crucial contribution”

The chain’s 25,000 employees will receive up to £300 in their pay packet this month, with shop floor staff and managers to be given the same amount.

The one-off payments is a token of thanks for a 'phenomenal year' (Photo: Shutterstock)

Around 19,000 staff who have been with the company before and up to 31 March 2019 will each receive the full payment of £300, while the remaining 6,000 members of staff will each be paid £75 for every quarter they have been with the company.

Employees across the country, which includes more than 2,000 outlets, will receive their share of the bonus at the end of January.

The one-off payment comes as a token of recognition for workers’ “crucial contribution” to the company’s success last year, with total sales rising by 13.5 per cent.

Vegan sausage roll success

The launch of its vegan sausage roll was hugely successful (Photo: Getty Images)

2019 marked a strong year of trading for the chain, with sales largely driven by the successful launch of its vegan sausage roll.

The new product proved hugely popular among customers and paved the way for more vegan-friendly items to be added to its list of products, including a vegan sweet mince pie which was sold over Christmas.

Greggs recently added to its vegan offering with the launch of a vegan steak bake and its first vegan doughnut earlier this month.

Chief executive Roger Whiteside said: "The major investments we have made in recent years to make Greggs an attractive choice in the food-on-the-go market are delivering.

"Consumers are responding very positively and we have seen increasing visits from both new and existing customers.

"Our record financial performance in 2019 has enabled us to enhance returns to shareholders.

"I am delighted to announce that we will also be making a special additional payment to all of our colleagues across the business who have worked so hard to deliver this success in what has been a phenomenal year.”

With strong momentum in the business, Greggs expects to open around 100 new shops in the next 12 months and is experimenting with takeaway dinners by opening some of its stores later.

The company is also working on developing ideas such as online ordering for collection and home delivery.

Greggs workers to share £7m bonus as thanks for ‘phenomenal year’ which saw vegan sausage roll success