Shock as Greggs announces plans to close manufacturing site in Kelso
Last updated 30th Sep 2026
It's emerged Greggs was advertising for a permanent facilities engineer at its Kelso factory just weeks before announcing plans to close it.
Applications for the £44,000-a-year job at the bakery chain only closed earlier this month.
The manufacturing site at Pettigrews, on Pinnaclehill Industrial Estate - which has operated for nearly 60 years - is one of four proposed for closure across the UK, with around 740 jobs affected.
Scott Hamilton - Scottish Borders Council's Executive Member for Economic Development - revealed today's announcement came as a shock.
He had earlier been speaking at a networking event at Lilliardsedge Holiday Park aimed at getting more people into work.
“I was naturally very disappointed to hear today that Greggs is closing sites across the United Kingdom," Councillor Hamilton told Greatest Hits Radio.
“We are going to, as a council, reach out to the company, understand a little bit more about the details but also offer to see what we can do to help.
“We obviously have the South of Scotland Enterprise, as well as multiple different employability groups, which can help in these situations, and we look to try and utilise that in this situation.
“Once we have more details we'll obviously progress those conversations, but my heart goes out to the employees which were given notification this morning.
“It's definitely troubling news from such a big employer in the country.”
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As well as the Scottish site, Greggs plans to close its manufacturing bases at Enfield, Greater London; North Lakes near Penrith in Cumbria; and Seaham, County Durham.
It also plans to reduce the range of products manufactured at its Clydesmill, Glasgow and Manchester locations, as well stopping the manufacturing of tinned bread at Gosforth.
Sarah Woolley, general secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU), said: “The BFAWU is deeply concerned by today’s announcement from Greggs, which places hundreds of workers and their livelihoods at risk as part of proposed changes to the company’s manufacturing network.
“Our immediate priority is our members, their jobs, their families and the communities that could be affected by these proposals.
“Greggs is clear in its own announcement that the business continues to perform strongly, that more customers are choosing Greggs than ever before, and that it is investing significantly to support further growth.”
Greggs says the proposed changes follow a detailed review of its manufacturing network and are intended to create a more streamlined, resilient and efficient operation, with capacity to support the company's future growth.
But it stresses no final decisions have been made, with affected employees and their union representatives now due to be consulted.
Chief Executive Roisin Currie said: "Greggs is a strong and growing business, and we continue to invest significantly in our future.
"To continue building a successful business for the future, we must keep evolving alongside changing customer expectations.
"We want to ensure Greggs remains a strong, sustainable business for decades to come."
It's claimed some staff only learned of the proposed closure on social media.
South of Scotland Liberal Democrat MSP Duncan Dunlop said: “The fact of the matter is that we don’t have all the details, which will be adding to what is already a very stressful situation for employees and their families.
“For a small rural town like Kelso this will have a significant detrimental impact.
“I have written to Cabinet Secretary Stephen Flynn to ask for a meeting to discuss what support the Scottish Government can provide to help prevent this closure.”
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