Sainsbury’s employs 148,000 colleagues, but new plans to axe some in-store services will result in more than 3,000 job cuts.
According to the latest Statista data, the supermarket giant is the second most popular in the UK. It focuses on bringing its core food ranges to more supermarket customers “while simplifying central divisions and management structures.”
A statement from the retailer detailed the company’s plan to become the First Choice for Food.
To achieve this, Sainsbury’s has proposed closing the remaining patisserie, hot food, and pizza counters while maximising store space for the most popular items.
Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s chief executive, said: “The decisions we are announcing today are essential to ensure we continue to drive forward our momentum but have also meant some difficult choices impacting our dedicated colleagues in a number of parts of our business. We’ll be doing everything we can to support anyone impacted by today’s announcements.”
It comes just three years after the supermarket chain announced plans to close 200 cafes, putting 2,000 jobs at risk in 2022. At the time, the proposal also involved closing down less popular hot food counters in 34 of its stores.
The retailer already closed its fresh fish, cheese and meat counters in stores prior to this, which saw about 3,500 jobs cut.
As for the stores at risk in the latest wave of store closures, 61 locations across the UK have been named by Sainsbury’s.
Sainsbury’s cafes at risk of closure
- Fosse Park
- Pontypridd
- Rustington
- Scarborough
- Penzance
- Denton
- Wrexham
- Longwater
- Ely
- Pontllanfraith
- Emersons Green
- Nantwich
- Pinhoe Road
- Pepper Hill – Northfleet
- Marshall Lake
- Rhyl
- Lincoln
- Bridgemead
- Larkfield
- Whitchurch Bargates
- Sedlescombe Road
- Barnstaple
- Dewsbury
- Kings Lynn Hardwick
- Truro
- Warren Heath
- Godalming
- Hereford
- Chichester
- Bognor Regis
- Newport
- Talbot Heath
- Rugby
- Cannock
- Leek
- Winterstoke Road
- Hazel Grove
- Morecambe
- Darlington
- Monks Cross
- Marsh Mills
- Springfield
- Durham
- Bamber Bridge
- Weedon Road
- Hempstead Valley
- Hedge End
- Bury St Edmunds
- Thanet Westwood Cross
- Stanway
- Castle Point
- Isle of Wight
- Keighley
- Swadlincote
- Leicester North
- Wakefield Marsh Way
- Torquay
- Waterlooville
- Macclesfield
- Harrogate
- Cheadle
According to the retailer, most of Sainsbury’s loyal shoppers do not use the cafés regularly, but cafés and food halls run by specialist partners are becoming increasingly popular.
Other changes are being made to the fresh food offered in stores. The retailer is rolling out updated bakery recipes to ensure consistent quality and value, as well as new self-serve bread slicing, which will be completed by the summer.
As part of Sainsbury’s Save and Invest to Win programme to deliver £1billion of operating cost savings, the retailer plans to update its central divisions and management structures.
A statement from the retailer said: “This will see all head office departments reorganised to become dedicated to the different needs of the Sainsbury’s and Argos businesses, while creating fewer, bigger roles with clearer accountabilities.
“The changes are designed to drive faster decision making and bring costs down through an estimated 20 per cent reduction in senior management roles over the next few months.”
