Tesco confirms job cut plans | Progresiv
Tesco has confirmed that thousands of jobs are at risk in its stores and head office as part of moves to simplify its business, cut costs, and adapt to changing shopping patterns. 
Following a report over the weekend claiming that as many as 15,000 roles were set to be axed, Tesco issued a statement clarifying that its plans will affect around 9,000 staff. However, the retailer stressed that up to half of these could be redeployed to other roles.
The proposed changes include closing fresh fish, meat and deli counters in around 90 of its larger stores with the remaining 700 trading with either a full or flexible counter offer.
It is also simplifying how it manages stock having found better ways to conduct store routines. Tesco claimed that the changes mean a significantly reduced workload for staff so fewer hours are now needed to complete the routines. Additionally, merchandising is being simplified with less layout changes made in order to free up staff to focus on customer service.
The group is also closing hot food staff canteens in the remaining stores that offer such a service. These will be replaced self-service kitchen areas with vending machines that have been rolling out across the chain over the last three years.
Meanwhile, Tesco stated it will be introducing a “simpler and leaner structure” for its head office teams to allow it to “focus on supporting our customers”.
Contrary to reports over the weekend, Tesco said it is not planning to make any significant changes to its in-store bakeries this year.
Jason Tarry, Tesco Chief Executive for the UK and Ireland, commented: “In our four years of turnaround we’ve made good progress, but the market is challenging and we need to continually adapt to remain competitive and respond to how customers want to shop.
“We’re making changes to our UK stores and head office to simplify what we do and how we do it, so we’re better able to meet the needs of our customers. This will impact some of our colleagues and our commitment is to minimise this as much as possible and support our colleagues throughout.”
Tesco has already cut thousands of jobs in recent years as part of Chief Executive Dave Lewis’s turnaround plan, which includes shaving 1.5 billion pounds off the group’s operating costs by 2020. (www.kamcity.com)
