Lunchtime favourite, Greggs, has reported another sales rise in its third quarter.

The hot food retailer saw a 6.1% increase in total sales for the 13 weeks to September 27, while like-for-like sales in company-managed shops were up 1.5%, as reported by Retail Gazette.

For the year-to-date, total sales rose 6.7% and like-for-like sales increased by 2.2%.

Greggs reported strong trading through August and September, following a slower July, with sales hit by unusually hot weather.

The retailer said menu innovation helped boost performance during the quarter, with the launch of the £5 "Big Deal" meal offer, expanded sandwich and toastie ranges, and new protein shakes.

Greggs also extended its frozen "Bake at Home" range into Tesco, bringing total distribution of the range to 930 Iceland and 820 Tesco stores, as well as online.

So far this year, the business has opened 130 new shops and closed 73 (including 39 relocations, adding up 57 net new openings and a total of 2,675 shops trading, as of September 27. These include concessions in Tesco and Sainsbury's.

For the full year, Greggs expects around 120 net shop openings, slightly below its original forecast, but with a strong pipeline heading into 2026.

There are plans to open a 17th Gloucestershire branch in part of the former Evans Cycles unit on the Kingsditch Trading Estate in Cheltenham - just half a mile away from the store on Gallagher Retail Park.