Tesco to close its remaining in-store food counters and hot delis

More than 2,000 jobs are at risk at Tesco and all in-store food counters will close under new plans unveiled by the supermarket giant.

The retailer has said it is implementing multiple changes in a bid to “remain focused and competitive in a fast-changing market.”

This includes the introduction of a new management structure across its larger superstores and Extra stores.

The company says this has already been trialled in approximately 350 of its smaller stores and will lead to around 1,800 new shift leader roles in these stores

However this will lead to the loss of lead and team managers in larger stores, impacting around 1,750 colleagues.

Staff will be offered the opportunity to transfer to shift leader vacancies with financial support or take redundancy.

Tesco has also confirmed that it will close its remaining in-store food counters and hot delis from February 26.

The company says there has been a “significant decrease in demand” for counter products over the last few years, with the majority of its stores no longer offering the service.

No details have been provided of the amount of jobs that will be lost as a result of the in-store counter and hot deli closures, however Tesco states that staff will be offered alternative roles.

Tesco will close eight of its pharmacies, where there are other pharmacies within one mile of its store, moving overnight roles to the daytime in 12 stores and reducing hours within some Post Offices.

The retailer is also removing a small number of roles in different functions of Head Office and closing the Tesco Maintenance National Operating Centre (NOC) in Milton Keynes.

This is expected to impact 350 roles across the business.

In a statement, Tesco said: “Our priority is to support colleagues impacted by these changes and we will enter a consultation process with USDAW on these proposals.

“We currently have around 2,000 vacancies across our business, in addition to the more than 1,800 new Shift Leader roles we will be introducing to stores.”

Tesco UK and ROI CEO, Jason Tarry said: “These are difficult decisions to make, but they are necessary to ensure we remain focused on delivering value for our customers wherever we can, as well as ensuring our store offer reflects what our customers value the most.

“Our priority is to support those colleagues impacted and help find alternative roles within our business from the vacancies and newly created roles we have available.”