PASTY and sausage roll maker Greggs, which includes more than 150 stores in Bradford and West Yorkshire, has smashed profit forecasts for the second time in a month after seeing “very strong” Christmas trading.

Greggs said like-for-like sales lifted 8.2 per cent in the five weeks to January 3 as the group focused on food-on-the-go menus such as sandwiches, sausage rolls and fresh coffee.

The improvement follows a drive by chief executive Roger Whiteside to increase focus on the food-on-the-go market, which accounts for 75 per cent of customer visits, rather than traditional take-home business.

Mr Whiteside added: “This has been a year in which we have made good progress with our strategic plans and seen a welcome improvement in financial performance.

“We remain clear on our priorities and are confident that we can make further progress in the year ahead.”