Tesco announces plans to 'simplify' operations by axing 1,700 shop floor jobs

Tesco is putting 1,700 jobs at risk as part of plans to “simplify” operational structures across its supermarket network in the UK.

The supermarket chain said the changes will “improve efficiency and give line managers clearer accountability for colleague and customer experience.”

Tesco announced that the role of people manager and compliance manager will be removed from large stores and fulfilment centres in the UK.

The removal of people managers will impact colleagues in 757 large stores and seven fulfilment centres. The loss of compliance managers will impact colleagues in 667 large stores and seven fulfilment centres.

Customer experience managers will also be axed in 226 stores across the UK.

The UK’s largest supermarket chain said that the 1,700 colleagues affected by these changes will be supported to find alternative roles within the business wherever possible.

In addition, Tesco is aiming to create a further 900 new roles with “broader remits.” The new positions are for people partners, learning partners and colleague relations partners, who will be working across multiple sites throughout distribution, stores and fulfilment.

As part of this a new colleague administration role will also be created to support management teams in each large store and fulfilment centre.

Matt Davies, Tesco UK and ROI CEO, said: “These changes remove complexity and will deliver a simpler, more helpful experience for colleagues and customers.

“We recognise these are difficult changes to make but they are necessary to ensure our business remains competitive and set up for the future.

“Our priority now is to support affected colleagues through these changes in any way we can. We hope to retain as many colleagues as possible in the new roles we have created and in the vacancies we currently have available.”