Food
Changes in shopping behaviour in its customers force British market leader Tesco to cut 4,500 jobs in 153 proximity stores that carry the Tesco Metro banner. The size of these stores is somewhere in between that of hypermarkets and that of Express stores.
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Fashion
French fashion house Sonia Rykiel is bankrupt. Now that the search for an acquirer has failed, the 1968 fashion brand is left with 30 million euros of loss and declining sales.
Roberto Cavalli is about to close all of its stores in the United States. The Italian fashion brand is circling the drain and has decided to dispose of its American activities in an effort to stay afloat.
Carrefour wants to cut 1500 more jobs in France. The affected will mostly be employees in hypermarkets. The supermarket group is hoping to reach a mutual agreement on the cuts.
Electronics
French electronics and books chain Fnac has announced a restructuring in Belgium that will cost 57 people their job (12 % of the work force), as turnover continues to slide.
Coca-Cola is closing two of its five distribution centres in Belgium next year, putting 132 jobs at risk. A new legal entity should streamline operations and allow the company to remain competitive.
Furniture
Dutch Hema is feeling the strength of its new owner Marcel Boekhoorn. Four of the current eight directors have to leave the company in the next few months, they will not be replaced.
Coca-Cola’s labour unions are not happy with the announced job cuts from last week and have threatened to strike.
British supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is to cut about 2,000 jobs in the United Kingdom, aiming to save up to 500 million pounds (560 million euro) in an attempt to compete with discounters.
Sainsbury’s, the second largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom, is allegedly planning to cut 1,000 office jobs in order to save up to 500 million pounds (550 million euro).
Dutch fashion chain C&A will shut down 23 Spanish stores, which will leave more than 300 people unemployed. Currently, the chain has 106 stores in Spain, but it only wants to invest in profitable stores.
Several sources indicate that Italian fashion label Dolce & Gabbana may cut 1,000 jobs. Most cuts would take place in the factories in Legnano and Incisa, with a small round of job cuts at its main office in Milan.
Cosmetics
Birchbox, a start-up with a subscription service for beauty products, puts its expansion plans on hold as it faces a lack of funds and competition from other companies.
L Brands, which owns brands like Victoria's Secret, is to cut about 200 jobs as part of a restructuring plan.
General
Detergent and food manufacturer Unilever will transfer a number of jobs abroad, which means that about 200 people in the Netherlands will lose their jobs, something the labour unions find deplorable.
m-Tail
American make-up subscription service Birchbox will cut 15 % of its jobs, while it will also halt all Canadian activities. These moves should help the company return to profitability.
