// Tesco unveils new efficiency plan, including a new management structure and the closure of all food counters
// The supermarket has also proposed the closure of eight pharmacies, where there are other pharmacies within one mile of a store
Tesco is to axe all remaining food counters and is rolling out a new store management structure, in a suite of store changes that will put more than 2,000 roles at risk.
Over the last couple of years the grocery giant has introduced a new management structure in approximately 350 of its smaller superstores.
It will now extend this structure across all its larger superstores and Extra stores. It will introduce 1,800 new shift leader positions in these stores but will therefore reduce the number of lead and team manager roles.
The group said it will also realign its manager roles to ensure they are all of equal size and complexity, focusing on overall store performance and supporting our colleagues to serve their customers, communities and planet a little better every day.
It said: “We are supporting colleagues impacted by these changes, who will have the option of moving into shift leader vacancies with financial support or taking redundancy.”
Meanwhile, the grocer will axe all counters and hot delis from February 26, with the spaces set to be repurposed to better reflect our customers’ needs.
The grocer said it has seen “a significant decrease in demand for our counters over the last few years”, and its customers no longer say they are a significant reason for them to shop with the supermarket.
The majority of stores no longer operate any counters.
Tesco said all affected colleagues will be offered alternatives roles in-store, adding “where we can work with a third party to offer a counter experience in-store, we will continue to do so.”
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In addition to the proposed changes, Tesco said there are a small number of other localised changes across the business, including the closure of eight pharmacies, where there are other pharmacies within one mile of our store, moving overnight roles to the daytime in 12 stores and reducing hours within some Post Offices.
It is also removing a small number of roles in different functions of Head Office and closing the Tesco Maintenance National Operating Centre (NOC) in Milton Keynes.
Taking into account all the localised changes, we expect this to impact around 350 roles across the business.
“Our priority is to support colleagues impacted by these changes and we will enter a consultation process with USDAW on these proposals,” said Tesco
“We currently have around 2,000 vacancies across our business, in addition to the more than 1,800 new Shift Leader roles we will be introducing to stores.”
Tesco UK and ROI chief executive Jason Tarry said: “These are difficult decisions to make, but they are necessary to ensure we remain focused on delivering value for our customers wherever we can, as well as ensuring our store offer reflects what our customers value the most.
“Our priority is to support those colleagues impacted and help find alternative roles within our business from the vacancies and newly created roles we have available.”
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