Greggs has reported a rise in sales and profits for the first half of the year, helped by new products such as iced matcha lattes, chicken rolls and protein-rich salads that proved popular even during the summer's heatwaves. The results mark a turnaround for the UK's biggest fast food chain after a difficult summer last year, when hot weather dented demand for traditional pastries and prompted questions about whether Greggs had reached "peak" popularity.

Total sales rose to £1.1bn in the six months to the end of June, up 7.2% on the same period last year, driven largely by the opening of 34 net new stores, taking the total to 2,773 outlets. Sales at existing shops grew 2.1%, while pre-tax profit climbed almost 20% to £76m, aided by cost control and growth in its "bake at home" range now sold in Tesco and Iceland. Chief executive Roisin Currie said the chain had "continued to outperform the market", while an industry analyst cautioned that Greggs must keep balancing pricing and costs amid a challenging economic backdrop.