Greggs is to launch a new format store, its take on a local baker, British Baker can reveal.

The development will be the retailer’s second new concept store in as many months and will become the third store format for Greggs, concentrating on the firm’s bakery heritage. The move follows the recent launch into the coffee shop market, with Greggs Moment in Newcastle.

The as yet-unnamed concept will, according to the company’s chief executive Ken McMeikan, have a greater emphasis on bread and products to take home, while still stocking some of the savouries that its food-to-go stores have become famous for. However, it is not known at this stage whether the new-format sites will feature in-store bakeries or be supplied by Greggs’ chain of central bakeries.

In an exclusive interview with the boss of the bakery chain (page 18), McMeikan, who is HRH Prince of Wales Ambassador for the North told British Baker: "We are going to be looking next at a local bakery format. And that would look at the traditional product range you would expect to get from a baker, so there will be a much greater emphasis on bread and rolls and a much greater emphasis on sweet and confectionery, while still having some of the savouries and the sandwiches you would expect from food-on-the-go."

He added: "We really wanted to ask what is the range today that customers would want. Without giving away what that would be, we will be launching somewhere around the country next year."

Greggs delivered a resilient performance in the third quarter of 2011, with total sales growth of 5.4% and like-for-like sales growth of 0.8% for the 13 weeks to 1 October 2011.