AN expanding North-East bakery group said it had sold four million mince pies over Christmas as it ploughs ahead with plans to open up scores more stores this year.

Greggs chief executive Ken McMeikan revealed a surge in demand for Christmas products had pushed festive sales up on the previous year.

The four million sales, over a four-week period in December, was a six per cent rise on last year.

Demand for savouries increased by ten per cent, with more than two million Christmas festive bakes sold, an increase of 23 per cent on last year.

Over the Christmas trading period total sales by Greggs were up 3.1 per cent on the previous year, with like-forlike sales up by 1.1 per cent.

Mr McMeikan said: “I am very pleased with our sales performance, particularly over Christmas, in what has remained a challenging trading environment for the high street.”

In Christmas week itself total sales were up by 6.5 per cent and like-for-like sales up by 4.4 per cent, with 250,000 more customers served than in the same week last year.

The positive Christmas trading period rounded off a successful year for the group.

Last year, Greggs’ total sales were up five per cent on the previous year, with likefor- like sales up 0.8 per cent.

Mr McMeikan said he expected the groups overall results to be in line with expectations when a preliminary announcement is made on March 18.

The group’s continuing expansion programme had hit its target in 2009.

It opened 49 shops as planned and closed 39, making a net addition of ten new shops and a total of 1,419 at January 2.

It intends to open up to 60 more this year as part of a £300m, five-year plan to open at least 600 more shops across the UK.

Mr McMeikan praised staff for the way they had dealt with the recent cold snap.

He said: “We are grateful for the enormous determination shown by our staff to maintain our service to customers under these testing conditions.”