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Morrisons has announced plans to merge its supermarket and convenience store operations, putting a number of head office roles at risk of redundancy.
It comes as the retailer said it plans to integrate support office functions and store management into a single team structure.
The move will reportedly aim to create a multi-channel shopping experience by combining the operations of company-owned convenience stores with its larger supermarkets.
A spokesperson said the transition would allow the business to remove duplication and simplify store tasks to capture efficiencies.
The restructuring will not affect Morrisons Daily stores, which are typically operated by third-party partners.
A Morrisons spokesperson told Retail Sector: “To enable us to deliver a truly multi-channel shopping experience for Morrisons customers, we are proposing to integrate the operation of our supermarkets and company owned Convenience stores and support office functions into a single team structure.
“The plans will allow us to leverage the existing skills and expertise we have in the business, remove duplication, simplify our store operations and capture efficiencies. There will be no direct impact on Morrisons Daily stores. The proposal will also enhance our ability to deliver a multi-channel approach to our trading business, leveraging opportunities with suppliers to improve our customer offer across both our supermarket and convenience formats.”
They added: “Unfortunately, the proposals will result in a number of roles being put at risk of redundancy as we integrate tasks into a single team and we will now commence a consultancy process with impacted colleagues. We understand this will be difficult news for them and will be offering them our full support, including helping them to find alternative roles elsewhere in the business wherever we can.
“There is no change to our Convenience growth strategy and we continue to see the opportunity for significant expansion in the years ahead.”
