Greggs to trial stores at motorway service station

Image caption, Greggs plans to start opening up outlets in motorway service areas

Greggs, the country's biggest chain of bakers, says it plans to open new shops in motorway service stations.

It has agreed a trial with Moto Hospitality, which runs a chain of service stations, with the first store at a site near Lymm in Cheshire.

If it is successful, the company will open up to 30 outlets to add to its existing chain of 1,540.

Greggs sells snack staples, such as sausage rolls and sandwiches, to six million customers a week.

The company's 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."

Greggs' most recent figures showed a rise in third-quarter sales despite the economic downturn.

The company said it continued to see good growth in breakfast sales, including the roll-out of Fairtrade coffee to all its shops.