Spar Netherlands is cutting more than fifty jobs at its headquarters in Waalwijk. The move will affect both management positions and operational roles, but not the employees in the stores and distribution centre.
Organisational changes
In recent years, Spar has invested heavily in its more than 400 stores, but these are now struggling with the ban on tobacco sales and the rising costs for energy and wages. The chain therefore needs to cut costs and, in that context, is reviewing the operations of its headquarters. Processes will be streamlined, so that the entrepreneurs who run the (franchised) stores “have more room to operate independently”, the chain said in a press release.
CEO Ruud van Munster calls the measures “far-reaching”, “because they affect our employees personally. At the same time, we are convinced that these are the right plans for the future of SPAR.” The chain points out that it has to reduce costs, while there is still a need to invest in strengthening its formula.
Both the works council and the trade union have already agreed to the proposed restructuring. Spar reports that this should soon result in a definitive social plan. The CNV trade union states that the provisional agreement “exceeds what we are used to in the retail sector.”
