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LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - British food-to-go retailer Greggs
said its retail and property director Roisin Currie
would succeed Roger Whiteside as chief executive in May, as it
reported a 0.8% rise in like-for-like sales for its fourth
quarter compared to two years ago.
The company, known for its sausage rolls, sandwiches and
cakes, said it anticipated its full-year outcome would be
slightly ahead of its previous expectations.
Greggs, which trades from 2,181 shops, said a strong
performance in October was followed by more challenging
conditions as consumers responded to precautionary messages
relating to the Omicron coronavirus variant.
The company said it also had to cope with continued
disruption to staffing and supply chains in the quarter, and
said conditions in the first few months of 2022 were likely to
remain challenging.
"Greggs has made great progress in 2021 despite tough
trading conditions," Whiteside said.
Total sales in 2021 were 1.23 billion pounds ($1.66
billion), it said, against 811 million pounds in 2020 when it
was hit by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, and 1.17 billion
pounds in 2019.
The company ended the year with cash of 198 million pounds,
which it said would allow it open about 150 new stores this
year, develop digital channels and extend its trading day.
Greggs, which sold 6.7 million of its shop-baked mince pies
over the festive season, said it would also be able to pay an
addition 30-40 million pounds to shareholders in a special
dividend.
Whiteside had given notice of his intention to retire,
Greggs said.
($1 = 0.7400 pounds)
(Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Alistair Smout)