Morrisons cuts 720 jobs at Bradford head office

Morrisons is cutting 720 staff at its headquarters in Bradford

A total of 720 jobs are set to be lost at Morrisons’ head office in Bradford.

The supermarket said it was beginning a consultation about a “simplified management structure” at its West Yorkshire base, which currently employs 2,300 people.

Morrisons said it had also begun recruiting 5,000 shop floor staff for its stores across the country.

Chief executive David Potts said the business had made “tough but necessary decisions”.

The supermarket said it would be offering opportunities for voluntary redundancy and staff would be offered a role in Morrisons stores, with some redeployed in other parts of the business.

Morrisons said it would not “rule in or out” the possibility that head office managers would offered new roles on checkouts or stacking shelves.

“They could be made redundant but they will certainly be made the offer of a job within the business,” said a spokesman.

Profits fall

Mr Potts added: “We are focusing on the things that matter to our customers.

“That means having more of our staff in our stores, improving product availability and helping customers at our checkouts.

“To support this, we need a simpler, faster and cost-conscious head office and that requires some tough but necessary decisions.”

David Potts was brought in as chief executive in March to replace Dalton Philips

In March Morrisons reported profits down by 52% to £345m, its worst results in eight years.

Mr Potts joined the business in March to replace Dalton Philips who left after five years at the helm of the firm

source: www.bbc.co.uk