Greggs Balliol Park Automated Cold Store & Production Line Expansion
Balliol Business Park, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK · 2021 (cold store opened), 2024 (fourth production line commissioned) · £26m (National Distribution Centre, including cold store), £62.7m (total capital expenditure in 2022, including Balliol Park preparatory works)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchGreggs' investment in a fully automated cold store and additional production lines at Balliol Park demonstrates a strategic move to enhance supply chain efficiency and meet growing demand for its popular products. - The adoption of high-bay automation and 'lights out' operations in the cold store represents a significant technological advancement in food logistics. - The expansion supports Greggs' broader growth strategy, including its target of up to 3,500 shops, by increasing manufacturing and logistics capacity.
Key engineering challenges
Designing and constructing a 32-meter high, fully automated frozen cold store for bulk storage. - Integrating advanced logistics automation systems (e.g., Swisslog) for efficient handling of frozen products. - Commissioning a new production line to significantly increase output of core bakery products. - Optimizing the layout and flow between existing manufacturing units and new facilities.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Greggs PLC
- Lead contractor
- Clegg Food Projects (cold store), Swisslog (logistics automation)
- Lead designers
- —
- Project type
- new build | expansion
- Scale
- 32-meter tall, fully automated high-bay frozen cold store; fourth production line for sausage rolls and bakes; increased production capacity from 8.5 million to 12.5 million units per week.
- Disciplines
- mechanical; electrical; automation; civil; structural; logistics; process engineering
- Standards & frameworks
- Food safety standards, cold chain logistics standards, automation safety standards
Sources: Food Manufacture (Sep 2021, https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2021/09/03/Greggs-opens-new-cold-store-at-Newcastle-manufacturing-site/) - Clegg Food Projects (https://www.cleggfoodprojects.co.uk/project/greggs-automated-cold-store/) - Swisslog (Jun 2024, https://www.swisslog.com/en-us/about-swisslog/newsroom/news-press-releases-blog-posts/2024/06/frozen-food-manufacturing-and-logistics-site-for-greggs) - Hatmill (https://hatmill.com/greggs-balliol-national-distribution-centre/) - Investegate (Mar 2025, https://www.investegate.co.uk/announcement/rns/greggs--grg/preliminary-results/8761311)