Greggs has announced it will remove cold sandwiches and bottled drinks from its self-serve fridges and place them behind the counter in a bid to reduce shoplifting at stores facing higher levels of anti-social behaviour.

The move is part of a trial being rolled out at a limited number of shops across the UK, the high street bakery chain confirmed on Monday.

“This is one of a number of initiatives we are trialling across a handful of shops which are exposed to higher levels of anti-social behaviour,” a Greggs spokesperson said.

“Customers can expect to see our full range of great value and tasty Greggs favourites available from behind the counter. The safety of our colleagues and customers remains our number one priority.”

Industry-Wide Concern Over Retail Crime

The change comes amid growing concern in the UK retail sector over the rising cost of theft, with several major brands, including Co-op and Tesco, reporting an increase in shoplifting incidents in recent years.

While Greggs has not disclosed specific stores or regions included in the trial, it is believed the decision targets urban branches with higher incidents of theft and disorder.

The trial may affect customer convenience, but the company stressed that its popular items will still be available for purchase — just with an extra step.

Greggs has not confirmed how long the trial will run or whether it could be extended to more locations depending on its success.