Tesco has announced plans to “simplify” its operational structures – placing 1,700 roles at risk as it looks to make further savings in the business.
The main change being implemented, Tesco said, was its intention to erase people manager and compliance manager roles at its large stores and fulfilment centres.
Customer experience managers were also facing the axe at its 226 largest stores.
The UK’s largest supermarket chain said the 1,700 people affected would be able to apply for 900 new jobs with “broader remits”.
Image: Tesco, like its major rivals, has slashed costs to help fund investment in lower prices
It described these roles as people partners, learning partners and colleague relations partners, while colleague administration jobs were also being added “to support management teams in each large store and fulfilment centre”, it said.
:: Tesco delays Clubcard reward changes after outcry
Tesco boss for the UK and Ireland, Matt Davies, said: “These changes remove complexity and will deliver a simpler, more helpful experience for colleagues and customers.
“We recognise these are difficult changes to make but they are necessary to ensure our business remains competitive and set up for the future.
“Our priority now is to support affected colleagues through these changes in any way we can. We hope to retain as many colleagues as possible in the new roles we have created and in the vacancies we currently have available.”
Image: Dave Lewis took over as chief executive of Tesco in 2014
The major UK supermarkets have moved over the past few years to meet the challenge posed by discount chains by slashing costs to invest more in their price offerings.
Tesco cut thousands of head office and call centre jobs last year alone under a recovery programme ordered by chief executive Dave Lewis, who has made progress in stemming a customer exodus to the likes of Aldi and Lidl.
More from Business
Tesco employs 450,000 people in total and has been focusing its investment on its core UK supermarket chain.
That was reflected in its Christmas trading figures which showed like-for-like sales rising 1.9% in the six weeks to 6 January, with food up 3.4% on the same period last year.
Source: Sky