Greggs has released a strong set of sales figures for the half-year to June. The bakery retailer’s group sales for the 24 weeks to 14 June 2008 were up by 7.7% to £276m (2007: £256m). Pre-tax profit rose 32% to £22.2m. However, pre-tax profit excluding property and exceptional gains dipped by 4.3% to £14.1m. The results are the last to be presented by Greggs’ outgoing managing director Sir Michael Darrington, who’s held the role since 1984.