Tesco staff across Swindon and Wiltshire face an anxious wait after the supermarket giant released a shock announcement that it will be cutting 4,500 jobs.
The UK’s biggest supermarket has said its Metro stores will be hardest hit in the latest round of redundancies with positions also set to go at some Express and larger stores.
Tesco has one Metro stores in Swindon along with seven Express stores.
The company said in a statement: “The Metro format was originally designed for larger, weekly shops, but today nearly 70 per cent of customers use them as convenience stores, buying food for that day.”
The changes to stores will include fewer products in the back of the store, with more moving straight to the shop floor when they are delivered.
In 134 Tesco Express stores – out of 1,750 – there will also be a reduction in opening hours due to low footfall.
Jason Tarry, Tesco UK and Ireland chief executive, said: “In a challenging, evolving retail environment, with increasing cost pressures, we have to continue to review the way we run our stores to ensure we reflect the way our customers are shopping and do so in the most efficient way.
“We do not take any decision which impacts colleagues lightly, but have to make sure we remain relevant for customers and operate a sustainable business now and in the future.”
Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw, which represents over 160,000 Tesco staff, said it is calling for Government action to tackle the crisis in retail.
Its national officer, Pauline Foulkes, said: “Our members at Tesco are shocked and dismayed by yet another round of potential job losses, coming just months after 9,000 staff were put at risk in stores.
“We will be working hard to make sure that any members potentially affected by these proposals are supported at this difficult time and throughout the consultation period.
