Tesco has announced a significant restructuring of its head office operations, which will see 180 jobs eliminated while simultaneously creating 250 new positions.
The supermarket giant stated the move is part of its strategy to establish the “right set-up” to address evolving consumer shopping habits.
The UK’s largest grocer acknowledged that these proposed changes would undoubtedly be “difficult news” for the staff members whose positions are at risk.
All affected roles, both those being removed and those being established, are located within Tesco’s Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire headquarters.
While the specific roles impacted by these adjustments have not been publicly disclosed, the restructuring is understood to be a strategic move designed to bolster the company’s rapidly expanding online and quick commerce platforms.
This also aims to enhance customer and personalisation services, reflecting a broader investment in its digital capabilities.
Ken Murphy, Tesco’s chief executive, said: “We are committed to giving our customers the best value and service every time they shop with Tesco.
“As we look forward and anticipate customers’ changing needs, we must ensure we continue to have the right setup and capabilities.
“To do this in a highly competitive market, we must be efficient and agile in how we run our business.
As a result, we have begun speaking to colleagues about some changes to our head office that will involve some roles being removed and new roles created.
“We understand that this will be difficult news for our colleagues who are impacted, and we will do everything we can to support them, including helping them find alternative roles in our business wherever possible.”
Tesco said it had entered into a consultation over the proposals with trade union Usdaw.
Daniel Adams, Usdaw’s national officer, said: “It remains incredibly disappointing that, while the company still performs strongly, it continues to make decisions like this.
“Usdaw will enter into consultation talks and do all we can to interrogate the business case for the company’s proposals, while seeking the best deal possible for any of our members who are impacted.
“In the meantime, we will be providing our members with the support, advice and representation they need.”
Tesco is expecting to make a profit of between £2.9 billion to £3.1 billion for the latest financial year.
It increased its share of the UK grocery market to 28.7 per cent in the three months to 28 December, its highest for more than a decade, according to data by Worldpanel.
