The outlet store in Robert Street

FOR months, it was a steak bake secret enjoyed by people living in and around the Regent’s Park estate. But word of a Greggs Outlet store – serving up discounted sausage rolls – has spread rapidly in recent weeks and customers are coming from further afield in search of a bargain lunch with long queues developing every day.

“Outlets” are normally more associated with clothes retailers who push out end-of-season stock or samples to an out-of-town store.

But Greggs has taken the idea up in Robert Street by selling food there that was not bought in London the previous day – at a heavily discounted price.

Wayne Mason, who works in construction and is currently based on Hampstead Road, said the Greggs was an “oasis” in an area lacking in breakfast or lunchtime spots and used readily by construction workers.

“There’s not enough options for food here especially with the amount of trades working around Hampstead Road,” he said. “It’s also cheap and that’s why so many people come here. My partner told me I need to lay off it though, breakfast, lunch and snacks at Greggs isn’t treating me kindly.”

Greggs outlets sell the day-old food with 50-70 per cent off the normal price. The company said the idea is to combat food waste and provide affordable meals in disadvantaged areas with profits supporting the Greggs Foundation. It said it was an part of its “Greggs Pledge” to build healthier communities and allow families to stretch budgets.

The ever-popular sausage rolls

But Dr Asil Alsam, an experienced dentist working at Arrow Dental Practice in Robert Street, warned the outlet may not be promoting a healthy lifestyle. “I have always believed in the strong link between diet and health,” said Dr Alsam, adding: “Many researchers spend their life studying the link and exploring healthier ways of eating. The message that they all agree on is that sugar and processed food is not a healthy choice, simply because it aids inflammation.

“Saying all that, it is clear that cheap food still attracts many of us. We are all trying to reduce our cost of living. Some more than others. Does that make going for the cheaper option good or bad? There is unfortunately no black and white answer, especially when people don’t have the means to make the right choice.”

Mel Hargreaves, 76, who has lived on the Regent’s Park Estate all her life said: “The area has had so many shops close down and where Greggs now is the shop was empty for so long. At least it’s being used and brings people to the area. It’s a great community and we all know each other. “The fact it’s cheap is such a bonus. Some people don’t have a lot of money so to get something on the cheap is good for lots of hard-working families.”

Workers in the outlet said when the New Journal visited that the shop had originally been a spot only popular with locals, but that now it was more well known, people were coming from all over the borough to snap up the snacks. An hour before it closes at 6pm, goods are even cheaper, with four steak bakes for the price of one at a normal Greggs.

Roisin Currie, Greggs’ chief executive, said: “Opening more outlet shops reaffirms our commitments set out in the Greggs Pledge to reduce waste and support communities. By selling surplus fresh products at great value and reinvesting a share of the profits through The Greggs Foundation, we are able to help families and local charities across the country.”