Tesco to cut hundreds of jobs as it axes more than 300 meat, fish and deli counters

Hundreds of jobs are set to be lost as Tesco axes 317 of its meat, fish and deli counters, as well as its discount chain Jack’s. 

The supermarket giant has announced it will be permanently closing the counters at stores that have experienced the ‘lowest demand’ amid changes in customer habits following the Covid pandemic.

While Tesco hasn’t disclosed the total number of jobs this move will impact, it is understood that hundreds of staff could be let go.

A day on from that announcement, Tesco then revealed that around 1,400 overnight roles are also at risk in stores and petrol stations.

Tesco

It then said it will be closing seven of its thirteen bargain Jack’s stores, with the remaining six being turned into Tesco stores.

Tesco UK and Republic of Ireland chief executive Jason Tarry said: “Our Jack’s brand will continue to be sold across Booker and our symbol brands, bringing great value and quality to even more customers.

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“We want to thank our Jack’s colleagues for all they have done and taught us. Our priority is to find roles within our wider business for all the colleagues who want to stay with us.”

He then added yesterday: “We operate in a highly competitive and fast-paced market, and our customers are shopping differently, especially since the start of the pandemic.

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“We are always looking at how we can run our business as simply and efficiently as possible, so that we can reinvest in the things that matter most to customers. The changes we are announcing today will help us do this.”

The Covid pandemic had a huge impact on all supermarket chains across the UK, with the industry having to adapt to increased online demand more in the last two years than at any other time in the last decade.

Ellie Murphy, Scotland chair at the Chartered Institute of Marketing said, as per the Retail Gazette: “Grocers have innovated and adapted their online product offering to meet the enormous demand that resulted from the pandemic.

“Offering same-day delivery and no minimum spend in some cases meant that instead of the big weekly shop, the online offer became more convenient.”