Tesco Reportedly Plans To Axe '15,000 Jobs' And Close Meat, Fish And Deli Counters

Tesco plans to axe 15,000 jobs as part of a £1.5 billion cost-cutting initiative, it has been reported.

Meat, fish and deli counters and in-store bakeries are also expected to close as part of the cuts.

The Mail On Sunday reports that industry sources estimate a total of 15,000 jobs could be cut from supermarkets across the country, with staffed canteens replaced by vending machines.

Tesco Extra counter staff will also be cut back, with some stores getting rid of counter staff completely.

The supermarket is reportedly aiming to make £1.5 billion in savings by 2020.

PA

Tesco is the UK's biggest supermarket with 732 stores nationwide.

The paper reports that Tesco chief executive, Dave Lewis, has cut staff by 10,000 since assuming the role in 2014.

A Tesco spokesperson said: "We're always looking at ways to run our business more simply and efficiently. Whenever we make changes in our business, colleagues are always the first to know."

The news comes after Tesco recorded its best Christmas period in nearly a decade, despite the difficulties faced by competitors and other major retailers like Marks & Spencer and John Lewis.

According to the Guardian, the company posted 2.2 percent growth in UK like-for-like sales in the six weeks leading up to 5 January, representing Tesco's best performance across the festive season since December 2009.

Lewis spoke of a "very strong Christmas performance which was ahead of the market."

In January of last year, Tesco spoke of plans to 'simplify' the structure of its store teams, also putting jobs at risk.

Topics: Food, UK News, Tesco

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey