Greggs to serve up the pasties at motorway services

Greggs said it will open its first trial store off the M6 and M56 near Lymm, Cheshire, in December.

A second trial outlet is planned, but the location is yet to be determined. Moto has 45 locations in the UK, including Doncaster North, Wetherby, Ferrybridge, Scotch Corner and Woolley Edge.

Greggs said that if the two stores are a success it could open at least 30 stores in Moto locations across Britain.

Greggs, which serves some six million customers a week, has bucked the gloomy trend on the high street in recent months as offers on sausage rolls and a new range of doughnuts pulled in customers.

Chief executive Ken McMeikan said: “Making Greggs even more accessible to consumers as they travel will, I hope, be welcomed by both existing and new customers of Greggs.”

The motorway services sector has ridden the recession well.

Moto’s rival Roadchef last year signed a multi-million pound overhaul to bring more McDonald’s restaurants to its estate, under the fast food chain’s first national franchise agreement.

Earlier this month, Greggs said demand for cut-price sausage rolls had helped it to buck the gloom on the high street.

Greggs said promotions such as a sandwich and a drink from £1.89, four sausage rolls for £2.30 and two steak bakes for £2 are proving popular in the current economic climate.

It has also sold more than 1.4 million Superstar Doughnuts since it introduced the range, including flavours such as Jaffa Cake, strawberry milkshake and triple chocolate.

The bakery chain now sells breakfast products, including pain au chocolat, porridge and coffee, alongside its more traditional pies and pasties.