A high street bakery best known for its pies, pasties and pastry slices is hoping for a bigger piece of the UK's pizza market with a new manufacturing line in Enfield.

The production line at the Greggs factory in Millmarsh Lane is part of the bakery group’s efforts to extend opening hours in its stores.

The firm has placed Enfield at the heart of its expansion plans, and the line will triple its national pizza capacity.

A total of 500 Greggs stores, best known for selling pastries, are now open until at least 8pm, driving demand for evening meal products such as pizza slices and chicken goujons.

The news comes after Greggs announced that it would aim to open 150 new shops across the country every year.

The chain, which already has nearly 2,330 branches, said there is a “clear opportunity” to have significantly more than 3,000 shops across the UK over time.

Asked how many jobs the pizza production line would create, a Greggs spokesperson said they did not have details to share.

In 2023, this will include new stores in Canary Wharf station, Shepherd’s Bush station and Gatwick airport’s south terminal.  

Greggs already opened a record 186 new shops in 2022, with new chains popping up in transport hubs like train stations and airports, retail parks and drive-thrus.

According to chief executive Roisin Currie, the chain is set to trial a drive-thru that will be open 24 hours later this year, although the exact location has not yet been decided.

The expansion plans come as Greggs revealed its total sales hit a record high of £1.5 billion last year, up by nearly a quarter on the previous year.

The chain said loyal customers have turned to Greggs for value meals amid rising living costs, although the number of customers has remained below pre-pandemic levels.

Ms Currie told PA: “Customers are seeking out great quality and great value, and that’s exactly what we offer.

“If you are a person who is out and about – whether you are going to work, or going to college or going to meet friends and you need to eat, then you are coming into Greggs and having a breakfast for £2.60, a lunch for £3.60, or an evening meal offer.”

The price of Greggs’ popular sausage roll is now £1.20, having cost £1 at the start of 2022 and being subject to several price rises throughout the year.

Ms Currie claimed that there were no current plans to increase prices further, but stressed that the chain will have to keep prices under review in the “uncertain market”.