Greggs plans to sell flat whites after take-out breakfast sales soar

Greggs said that breakfast was its fastest growing part of the day

Greggs decided to become an on-the-go food retailer and scrap its old focus on take-home baked goods in 2015 (AFP/Getty)

Greggs is no longer a one-stop shop for a bag of doughnuts and ten iced buns.

The budget baker has prompted fears that it is getting fancy after it announced plans to sell an "improved mocha" and introduce the flat white to its coffee menu in 2016 at the price of £1.75.

A flat white is an Australian coffee made with espresso and steamed milk, but without the froth of a cappuccino. Starbucks introduced one last year.

Greggs said that breakfast was its fastest growing part of the day, with sales of coffee on the rise, although it noted that sales of salads had been strong.

Greggs decided to become an on-the-go food retailer and scrap its old focus on take-home baked goods in 2015.

In March, chief executive Roger Whiteside told the Independent that Greggs used to have a "schizophrenic personality".

“We were confused about what we were trying to win with and we made the strategic decision that we were going to focus all our efforts on the food-on-the-go market," he said.

Greggs said total sales were up 5.2 per cent in 2015 compared to 2014.

The baker has expanded this year, refitting 2020 stores and converting 20 more into larger bakeries with cafes. It also opened 122 shops in 2015, against 74 closures.

That means there are now 1,698 Greggs trading in the UK at the moment. Plenty of places to get that flat white.