Morrisons puts around 200 head office jobs at risk in restructuring consultation

Bradford-based supermarket group launches redundancy consultation affecting head office roles as it plans to increase use of AI across operations.

Approximately 200 positions are under threat at Morrisons as part of a new restructuring programme at the supermarket chain’s head office. The Bradford-based retailer informed employees on Monday afternoon that it was initiating a consultation regarding redundancies, while also announcing plans to increase its deployment of AI throughout its operations.

The reductions will affect roles at its Hilmore House headquarters, impacting fewer than 10% of positions at the location. Last year, the business launched a long-term initiative to transform its central business operations.

Morrisons said it will focus on its core activities, streamline processes and structures, and automate a number of manual tasks as part of this. The firm will also “capitalise on the potential of data and AI to improve performance”, the retailer added.

It follows around a month after it announced up to 100 office personnel were at risk as part of proposals to merge two divisions which source products for its convenience stores and supermarkets.

Last month, Morrisons reported further sales growth as it continues to pursue a turnaround under chief executive Rami Baitieh. The retailer said it was “tough for customers right now”, and pledged to further investment in pricing to support shoppers.

A Morrisons spokesman said: “As we evolve and adapt, we are proposing to make some changes to a number of areas within our central structure. This will involve making some tough but necessary decisions which will impact on colleagues in our head office, where we are proposing to place a number of roles at risk of redundancy.

“We understand this will be difficult news for these colleagues and will be offering them our full support, including helping them to find alternative roles elsewhere in the business wherever we can.

“A consultation process with colleagues has now commenced.”