Greggs Expands Overseas With First International Airport Store in Tenerife

British holidaymakers flying home from Tenerife will soon be able to enjoy a taste of the UK before boarding their flights after Greggs confirmed plans to open its first overseas branch in almost two decades.

The Newcastle-based bakery chain has announced it will launch a new store inside Tenerife South Airport later this month, marking a major step in the company’s international ambitions and a significant moment for one of Britain’s most recognisable high street brands.

Known for its sausage rolls, steak bakes and affordable breakfast deals, Greggs has become a staple of towns and cities across the UK. Now, for the first time since a previous overseas venture ended in 2008, the company is preparing to test demand beyond British shores.

The new Tenerife airport branch will be located inside the international departures area, meaning travellers heading back to the UK or continuing onward journeys will be able to stop for a final Greggs meal before take-off.

Greggs chooses Tenerife for international return.

Greggs said Tenerife South Airport was selected because of its strong links to British tourism and high passenger numbers throughout the year.

The airport handles around 13 million passengers annually, with roughly half travelling between the Canary Islands and the UK. That steady flow of British tourists made the location an attractive choice for the company’s first overseas trial.

Chief executive Roisin Currie described the launch as an important milestone for the business as it explores opportunities outside Britain.

She said: “Tenerife South Airport is a hub for millions of UK and international passengers each year, making it the ideal location to test spreading our wings in an overseas setting.

“It’s an exciting milestone for Greggs as we bring a slice of home to the Canaries, and we’re confident our great-value offering will resonate just as well under the Spanish sun as it does on the UK high street.”

The branch will become the only Greggs store currently operating outside the United Kingdom.

British holidaymakers can enjoy classic Greggs favourites.

Customers visiting the new Tenerife Greggs will still find many of the bakery chain’s best-known products available on the menu.

Sausage rolls, sandwiches, breakfast baguettes, sweet pastries and hot bakes are all expected to feature prominently, giving British tourists a familiar option while waiting for flights home.

However, the overseas branch will also include several additions inspired by local tastes and the warmer Canary Islands climate.

Greggs confirmed the Tenerife menu will include a Spanish omelette breakfast roll alongside freshly squeezed orange juice prepared and bottled in-store every day.

The company said the menu additions would provide travellers with “a refreshing taste of island life” while still maintaining the core Greggs identity that millions of customers know across the UK.

The branch itself will include seating for up to 92 customers, creating a larger café-style experience aimed at passengers spending time in departures before boarding.

Newcastle bakery giant continues strong growth.

The Tenerife announcement comes during another period of financial growth for the Newcastle-headquartered bakery chain.

Greggs recently reported that like-for-like sales at company-managed stores increased by 2.5 per cent during the opening 19 weeks of 2026, despite continued pressure on consumer spending across the retail and hospitality sectors.

Total sales climbed by 7.4 per cent year-on-year to reach £800 million, underlining the company’s continued popularity with customers seeking affordable food options.

The business said recent menu launches had helped support growth, including a new chicken roll introduced as an alternative to the chain’s famous sausage roll.

Greggs also pointed to rising demand for matcha-based drinks among younger customers, reflecting changing trends in the UK food and drink market.

The company has continued expanding rapidly across Britain, opening 41 new branches since the start of the year while closing 21 underperforming locations.

Greggs remains on track to achieve its target of 120 net new shop openings during 2026.

International airport partnership opens new opportunities.

To launch the Tenerife branch, Greggs is partnering with Lagardere Travel Retail, a major international travel operator that manages more than 5,000 retail outlets across airports, railway stations and transport hubs in over 50 countries.

The partnership gives Greggs access to established international travel retail expertise while allowing the company to test overseas demand without committing to widespread international expansion immediately.

Javier Cagigal, chief executive of Lagardere Travel Retail Spain and Portugal, said the new store would offer passengers a familiar and comforting choice before travelling.

The partnership is also expected to help strengthen food options available inside Tenerife South Airport, which remains one of the busiest travel hubs for British tourists visiting Spain.

For many UK travellers, Greggs has become closely associated with convenience, affordability and familiarity, particularly during journeys and commuting.

The Tenerife launch reflects how major British brands are increasingly targeting international tourism hotspots where large numbers of UK visitors already travel each year.

Greggs faces future economic pressures despite strong sales.

Despite positive financial results and expansion plans, Greggs also warned investors that global instability could still affect the business during the coming years.

The company said continued tensions and prolonged conflict in the Middle East could contribute to higher inflation and increased operating costs during late 2026 and into 2027.

Like many food retailers, Greggs remains vulnerable to rising ingredient, energy and supply chain costs.

However, the bakery chain has continued to outperform expectations in recent years, helped by strong customer loyalty and aggressive expansion into travel hubs, retail parks and city centres.

The Tenerife airport opening may now offer an early indication of whether Greggs could eventually explore further overseas opportunities in other tourism-focused locations.

For a business that started as a small Newcastle bakery more than 80 years ago, the move represents another major chapter in its remarkable growth story.

Would you visit Greggs at Tenerife Airport before flying home from holiday? Let us know your thoughts on Greggs’ international expansion plans in the comments below.