ASDA consults 5,000 store colleagues on proposed store changes

ASDA has begun consulting around 5,000 store colleagues in regards to new job roles and redeployment opportunities as the supermarket chain plans for the future.

The staff consultations and proposed store changes come under Project Renewal, Asda’s 18 month project which aims to maintain and extend its low price and value competitive position, while increasing its price advantage over major competitors and strengthening its competitive position against the discounters.

Among the supermarket chain’s store changes that will be consulted on are service areas where our customer needs have also changed.

These include the proposals to remove the Selling Champion role in stores, proposals to remove George desks to reallocate space and introduce increased ranges, and proposals to re-measure Pharmacy hours to meet customer demand.

Services such as ‘create your own pizza’ may also be removed from smaller ASDA stores as time-pressed customers tend to prefer to buy pre-packed products.

In addition, ASDA is also looking at the proposal to close colleague canteens, following a 45 day colleague consultation period.

Although the supermarket chain is consulting in total with around 5,000 store colleagues, ASDA has reiterated that this is not a reflection of possible redundancies. The chain also said that the 1000 jobs at risk figure is completely speculative.

An Asda spokesperson said: “2015 was a tough year for UK supermarkets and Asda is no exception. The structure of UK grocery retailing has permanently changed to reflect the way that customers shop today. We know our customers better than anyone else and we need to make sure that our offer meets their changing needs.

“We have entered into a [45 day] consultation with our store colleagues on proposals which we believe will enable us to react more quickly by becoming a leaner and more agile business. These proposals are designed to make our stores easier to shop in and be more effective in delivering the low prices, quality and good value which customers tell us they want.”

These consultations follow on from the news that 200 home office jobs will be cut, which affected colleagues in Asda House in Leeds and George House in Lutterworth.

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