Morrisons significantly cuts store management jobs

Morrisons announces a major restructuring in which 3,000 management jobs will disappear. At the same time, the British supermarket chain wants to create 7,000 new jobs “on the shop floor”.

The end of department managers

According to Reuters, each of Morrisons’ almost 500 branches in the UK will retain a general store manager, but departmental roles will be axed. Their managerial responsibilities will be taken on by fewer managers with a broader remit.

“Whilst there will be a short period of uncertainty for some managers affected by these proposals, we will be supporting them through this process and there are jobs available for everybody who wants to continue to work at Morrisons,” said retail director David Lepley.

Providing better service

The new jobs that the supermarket wants to create are mainly jobs on the shop floor, such as shop workers, bakers, butchers and fishmongers. People who lose their jobs as a result of the restructuring are also eligible, but at the shop floor level, writes BBC.

However, according to Morrisons, the main purpose of the entire reorganisation is to serve customers better rather than to make savings.

The British retailer is the fourth largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom in terms of market share. The group employs some 97,000 people. Like the other chains of the big four (Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda), Morrisons is losing market share to the discounters Aldi and Lidl and is looking for ways to become both more efficient and save costs.