Sainsbury’s plans to axe 1,500 jobs in efficiency drive

The supermarket said the jobs lost would include roles at in-store bakeries, a contact centre in Cheshire and some local warehouses.

Before any redundancies are made, Sainsbury’s is undertaking a consultation process.

Some staff facing job losses will be offered other jobs, said the retailer, which wants to invest the money it saves from cutting roles back into the business.

The proposal to reduce staff at in-store bakeries was part of a plan to improve service to customers and move to a “more efficient way of baking goods in-store”, Sainsbury’s added.

“As a result, the supermarket will be conducting a consultancy process with bakers in these stores,” the retailer continued.

Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts said: “I know today’s news is unsettling for affected colleagues and we will do everything we can to support them.”