Supermarket chain Sainsbury鈥檚 is set to cut jobs in the North West as part of moves to cut costs by around 拢1 billion a year.
The business is planning to cut 1,500 roles in total, including jobs at its contact centre in Widnes, in Cheshire, at its in-store bakeries and a few at local fulfilment centres. It said the money it saves will be reinvested into the business to give customers 鈥済reat value, quality and service.鈥
Chief executive Simon Roberts said: 鈥淎s we move into the next phase of our strategy, we are making some difficult, but necessary decisions. I know today鈥檚 news is unsettling for affected colleagues and we will do everything we can to support them.鈥
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The supermarket will reduce its workforce by around 1,500 jobs, but subject to consultation. At Widnes a 鈥渧ast majority鈥 of its staff will see their employment move to a different company which Sainsbury鈥檚 already works with.
All of Sainsbury鈥檚 Careline services will now be run by this external company, Sainsbury鈥檚 said. It also plans to move more of its shops 鈥渢o a more efficient way of freshly baking products鈥.
鈥淎s a result, the supermarket will be conducting a consultancy process with bakers in these stores. Sainsbury鈥檚 has reassured affected colleagues that it will find alternative roles for them where possible, as it will for any colleague affected by changes proposed today.鈥
Investment in technology and automation will also mean that the retailer will need fewer local fulfilment centres. A 鈥渧ery small proportion鈥 of staff will be impacted and could be helped to find new roles where possible.
The company also said it plans some cuts in head office functions, which will 鈥渟treamline some senior leadership structures鈥. That will include changes in its retail, transformation, HR, supply chain and logistics teams.
Mr Roberts said: 鈥淭he proposals we鈥檝e been talking to teams about today are important to ensure we鈥檙e better set up to focus on the things that create a real impact for our customers, delivering good food for all of us and building a platform for growth.鈥
The announcement came after Mr Roberts refused to rule out job cuts as he announced Sainsbury鈥檚 plan to save 拢1bn per year. He said at the time that the company would try to 鈥減rotect jobs as much as possible鈥, and would try to retrain and redeploy employees where possible.
The company, which is the 海角视频鈥檚 second-biggest supermarket, said that it would boost the amount of space dedicated to food in its 600 stores. Sainsbury鈥檚 plans also include efforts to attract customers by offering electric car charging points at their stores and increasing offers for loyalty card holders.
It also plans to open another 75 convenience stores on top of the 821 it already runs.
