Sainsbury’s cut 3,000 jobs across the UK

Sainsbury’s has announced plans to eliminate 3,000 jobs across the UK as part of a strategic cost-saving initiative. This will be achieved through the closure of its hot food counters and cafes, as well as a reduction of senior management roles by 20%, in response to increasing labour costs.

Simon Roberts, the CEO of the supermarket chain, explained that the job cuts were part of the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce costs by £1bn, as it faces a “particularly challenging cost environment.” He stated, “We have had to make tough choices about where we can afford to invest and where we need to adapt to improve efficiency. The changes we are making today are vital to ensuring we continue our momentum moving forward.”

These job cuts come amid wider concerns in the retail sector, with some of the UK’s largest retailers warning they may need to reduce staff numbers and raise prices in the face of rising costs. This follows the government’s plans to increase national insurance contributions and the national minimum wage, which are expected to significantly impact the industry.

Despite these challenges, Sainsbury’s reported strong performance over the Christmas period. The retailer, which also owns Argos and Habitat, revealed that it had its “biggest ever Christmas,” with sales up 3.8% in the six weeks leading to January 4. Sales at its Argos stores grew by 1.1% during this period.

As part of its cost-saving strategy, Sainsbury’s will close its remaining patisserie, hot food, and pizza counters, shifting the most popular items from these counters into the regular aisles. It will also introduce a “self-serve” bread slicing service. Additionally, the company will close all 61 remaining Sainsbury’s branded cafes, following consultations. According to the supermarket, the majority of its most loyal customers do not use the cafes regularly, and cafes operated by specialist partners are becoming increasingly popular.

Sainsbury’s, which employs around 148,000 people and operates nearly 600 supermarkets and more than 800 convenience stores, is also restructuring its head office. The company plans to reduce the number of senior management roles by 20% over the coming months, creating “fewer, bigger roles with clearer accountabilities.” This is expected to drive faster decision-making and help bring down costs.

These latest closures follow a similar move almost three years ago, when Sainsbury’s closed 200 in-store cafes and 34 hot food counters, putting 2,000 jobs at risk.

While the company is committed to redeploying workers where possible, it has also promised to provide a support package to those affected that goes beyond the statutory requirements.

Twitter users have shared their views on Sainsbury’s plans to cut jobs.

Sainsbury’s has announced it will cut more than 3,000 jobs and plans to shut its remaining in-store cafes

Sainsbury’s will cut more than 3,000 jobs and plans to close its remaining in-store cafes as part of a major restructure, the supermarket chain has announced.

The supermarket has said it will shut its remaining 61 in-store cafes as part of a major overhaul.

The closures are part of plans by the UK’s largest supermarket group to save £1 billion over three years.

The majority of Sainsbury’s shoppers do not use the cafes regularly, whereas in-store food halls and concessions have grown in popularity, it said.

It comes almost three years after it shut 200 in-store cafes amid waning demand from shoppers.

The latest round of closures is part of a shake-up which will result in the loss of more than 3,000 jobs.

In 2023 Tesco announced similar plans to close hot counters and delis which impacted approximately 2,100 jobs.

Sainsbury’s Cafes will shut at the following locations:

Fosse Park, Leicestershire

Pontypridd, South Wales

Rustington, West Sussex

Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Penzance, Cornwall

Denton, Greater Manchester

Wrexham, North Wales

Ely, Cambridgeshire

Pontllanfraith, South Wales

Emersons Green, South Gloucestershire

Nantwich, Cheshire

Pinhoe Road, Exeter, Devon

Pepper Hill – Northfleet, Kent

Marshall Lake, Solihull, West Midlands

Rhyl, North Wales

Lincoln, Lincolnshire

Bridgemead, Swindon, Wiltshire

Larkfield, Aylesford, Kent

Whitchurch Bargates, Shropshire

Sedlescombe Road, Hastings, East Sussex

Barnstaple, Devon

Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

Kings Lynn Hardwick, Norfolk

Truro, Cornwall

Warren Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk

Godalming, Surrey

Hereford, Herefordshire

Chichester, West Sussex

Bognor Regis, West Sussex

Newport, South Wales

Talbot Heath, Dorset

Rugby, Warwickshire

Cannock, Staffordshire

Leek, Staffordshire

Winterstoke Road, Bristol

Hazel Grove, Stockport, Greater Manchester

Morecambe, Lancashire

Darlington, County Durham

Monks Cross, Huntington, North Yorkshire

Marsh Mills, Plymouth, Devon

Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex

Durham, County Durham

Bamber Bridge, Lancashire

Weedon Road, Northampton, East Midlands

Hempstead Valley, Kent

Hedge End, Hampshire

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Thanet Westwood Cross, Kent

Stanway, Colchester, Essex

Castle Point, Essex

Isle of Wight

Keighley, West Yorkshire

Swadlincote, Derbyshire

Leicester North, East Midlands

Wakefield Marsh Way, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Torquay, Devon

Waterlooville, Hampshire

Macclesfield, Cheshire

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

Cheadle, Greater Manchester

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s chief executive, stated that the supermarket is navigating a “particularly challenging cost environment” as it progresses with its strategic plans.