CUSTOMERS’ appetite for a healthier lifestyle has helped a baker’s sales rise.

Greggs says more people are replacing its traditional pies and pasties with its low-calorie Balanced Choice branded sandwiches and salads.

The firm says Balanced Choice now accounts for more than £1m sales a week, with chief executive Roger Whiteside adding he expects the gap between its long-established savoury products and health-conscious items to continue closing.

Mr Whiteside said the company will add more products to Balanced Choice to maintain its momentum, with new salads, a summer berry fruit pot, and an own-label sugar-free drinks range due to hit shelves in coming weeks.

The firm revealed the demand, supplemented by clamour for its coffee and breakfast porridge and meal deals, was a key driver in own like-for-like sales for the 16 weeks to April 25 lifting 5.9 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Total sales for the company, which operates 1,656 shops and 62 franchises, grew by five per cent in the period, and represent another highlight for the Newcastle-based firm, which has revamped its offerings in a bid to spearhead the UK’s £6bn convenience snack industry.

Mr Whiteside said he was delighted with customers’ response to the under-400 calorie Balanced Choice range.

He said: “Greggs is the place to come for food-on-the-go; not just for the traditional pies, pasties and sausage rolls, but the sandwiches and the healthy choice products too.

“Balanced Choice is fast growing.

“It is coming from a low base, but we have sales of more than £1m a week through it.”

Mr Whiteside, the former boss of Marks and Spencer’s food halls, was speaking ahead of Greggs starting a new venture in Northern Ireland tomorrow (Thursday, April 30), which will see it open a roadside trial site with motorway service company Applegreen on the M2, in Belfast.

He said: “Our research says Northern Ireland should represent a good opportunity for us.

“The customer base is very similar to mainland UK.”

The move comes as Greggs revives plans to extend its empire to 2,000 outlets, coupled with an increased presence on retail parks and motorway services through partnerships with operators Moto and Euro Garages.

Mr Whiteside said Greggs could have as many as 200 franchises by the time it reaches its 2,000 store target.

The expansion plans were initially launched five years ago, with bosses looking to create about 6,000 jobs, but were halted soon after when the economic downturn bit hard.

However, speaking to The Northern Echo earlier this year, Mr Whiteside said its high street dominance and increasing franchises gave it scope to grow.

He added: “There is still scope for 2,000 outlets in the UK; you have to be within spitting distance for consumer’s convenience.”