Greggs has confirmed it will open at Bishop Auckland’s new retail park next week.

The much-loved Geordie bakery will become the second brand to open at the new development, after Popeyes welcomed customers last month.

The chain is yet to confirm an exact opening date, but a spokesperson said it would open sometime next week.

They told the Echo: “Greggs is due to open a new shop in Bishop Auckland Retail Park within the next week. We can share further information over the next few days.”

Greggs iconic branding appeared at the unit earlier this week.

The Northern Echo: Signage has gone up at the unit at the new retail park.Signage has gone up at the unit at the new retail park. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

In January it said it had plans to open between 140 and 160 new shops this year. It follows a record 220 openings in 2023.

It highlighted retail parks, travel sites and roadside locations, as well as industrial estates as areas it planned to expand.

At the time chief exec Roisin Currie said they had “no plans” to increase prices this year.

It comes as the bakery chain’s annual profits soared last year, up 27%, with about 25,00 workers sharing £17.6m in bonusses last month. Staff were given the bonus in their pay packets at the end of March to recognise their “hard work and effort” over 2023, Currie said.

The opening follows fried-chicken chain Popeyes opening at the new Bishop Auckland development last month to high demand.

Some customers queues for hours from the early hours to get freebies as the Louisiana-founded chain arrived.

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Home Bargains and PureGym are among the big-name brands also opening at the new retail destination.

Signage for PureGym has also gone up with signs saying it will be opening soon.

Other businesses signed up include The Range, Reel Cinemas and Super Bowl UK.