Supermarket chain Morrisons on Monday (24) announced that it is shutting down its 17 convenience stores and 52 cafes as a part of its second year of its programme of renewal.
A wide-ranging review identified a number of areas where the costs of operations are significantly out of line with usage, volumes or the value that customers place on them.
As a result, Morrisons is proposing a number of changes over the next few months, specifically the closure of 52 Cafés, all 18 Market Kitchens, 17 Convenience stores, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies.
Although the significant majority of colleagues affected by these changes are expected to be deployed in suitable roles elsewhere in Morrisons, there will be a total of around 365 colleagues at risk of redundancy.
Rami Baitiéh, Chief Executive of Morrisons, said, “The changes we are announcing today are a necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons and enable us to focus our investment into the areas that customers really value and that can play a full part in our growth.
“Although these changes are relatively small in the context of the overall scale of the Morrisons business, we do not take lightly the disruption and uncertainty they will cause to some of our colleagues.
"We will of course take particular care to look after all of them well through the coming changes.”
Reacting on the reports, Darren Matthews – Usdaw National Officer says, “We have been informed by Morrisons about their restructuring plans.
"Usdaw will be supporting our members through the one-to-one consultation process, our priority is to keep as many employed in the business as possible.
"We welcome Morrisons’ early indication that the majority of staff affected by the changes are expected to be deployed to roles elsewhere in the business.
“Usdaw is also maintaining regular talks with the company on these proposals where we’ll be able to raise concerns, challenge and ask serious questions about the company’s business case.
"Usdaw reps are providing our members with the support, advice and representation they need through this period of uncertainty.”
