British Grocery Chain Sainsbury’s Slashes 3K Jobs

Supermarket group Sainsbury’s is planning to slash 3,000 jobs, according to a Times report on Friday (Nov. 6).

The group’s Argos business will see the most layoffs. Sainsbury’s is shuttering its meat counters, fresh fish departments and delis. Sainsbury’s purchased Argos in 2016 for £1.4 billion. 

“As we go into lockdown in England for the second time this year and restrictions are in place across the UK, we know our customers and colleagues are feeling anxious and we will do all we can to support them. Our colleagues have done an exceptional job going above and beyond for our customers every day which is why we are giving our frontline colleagues a second 10 percent thank you payment,” Simon Roberts, chief executive officer, Sainsbury, said in a statement on Thursday (Nov. 5).

“We also want to support our communities and those in need and are creating a £5 million community fund for local charities and good causes, in addition to the £7 million we donated to Fareshare and Comic Relief earlier this year. We want to do our bit to ensure that no one goes hungry at Christmas and to support those most in need,” Roberts added.

He said that he will forgo a bonus this year if one is payable.

By March 2024, the company is planning to open 150 more Argos stores in Sainsbury’s and add 150-200 more Argos collection points in supermarkets and convenience stores.

The second pandemic lockdown announced in the U.K. prompted merchant John Lewis and Lloyds Banking Group to roll out redundancy plans.

Sainsbury’s also announced that its Commercial Director Paul Mills-Hicks is exiting as part of the development of a leadership team headed by new CEO Simon Roberts.

The supermarket chain announced in February that it was rolling out smaller C-store shops, with the first one opening in London. The new stores are intended to bring necessities to busy city workers.