British holidaymakers travelling to Tenerife will soon be able to enjoy a familiar taste of home, as the famous bakery chain Greggs prepares to open its first and only international outlet at Tenerife South airport later this month.
This opening marks the company’s first venture into overseas operations since it closed its last international store in Belgium in 2008. Greggs has identified the Spanish island as the “ideal location” to experiment with expanding its reach outside of the United Kingdom.
Situated within the international departures lounge, the new shop is expected to serve its signature range of bakes, rolls, and sweet treats alongside freshly made sandwiches. In a nod to local flavours, the breakfast menu will feature a Spanish omelette roll. Customers will also be able to purchase orange juice that is freshly squeezed and bottled on-site every day, which the company claims provides a “refreshing taste of island life.”
The decision to open at Tenerife South airport is a strategic move to capture the high volume of British tourists who frequent the Canary Islands. Out of the 13 million passengers who use the airport annually, roughly half are travelling to or from the UK. The bakery suggested that the new location offers an affordable way to round off a trip, with the shop providing seating for up to 92 people.
Roisin Currie, the chief executive of Greggs, stated: “Tenerife South airport is a hub for millions of UK and international passengers each year, making it the ideal location to test expanding our operations in an overseas setting.” She added that the company is confident its value-for-money products will be just as popular under the Spanish sun as they are on the British high street.
The project is being launched in partnership with Lagardere Travel Retail, a firm that manages over 5,000 stores across airports and railway stations globally. Javier Cagigal, the chief executive of Lagardere Travel Retail Spain and Portugal, expressed his delight at bringing the well-loved brand to the airport, noting that it will offer passengers a comforting and familiar choice before they fly home.