Morrisons axed 3,600 staff after closing 17 stores
Morrisons has axed over 3,600 jobs as it bounced back into profit for the first time since its 2021 private equity takeover.
The Bradford-based supermarket behemoth reported a pre-tax profit of £2.1bn for the year ending 27 October 2024, overturning losses of £919m the previous year and £1.3bn the year before, according to fresh accounts lodged at Companies House.
However, Morrisons trimmed its workforce from 104,819 to 101,144 during this period.
Numbers of store staff plummeted from 88,258 to 85,508, manufacturing roles dipped from 7,865 to 7,612, distribution staff dwindled from 5,783 to 5,424, and head office employees decreased from 2,913 to 2,600.
These reductions f ollow more than 8,800 job cuts the previous year.
The retailer's revenue slipped from £18.3bn to £17bn despite like-for-like sales climbing 3.9% and total sales expanding 4.2% to £3.9bn in the second quarter of its current financial year. Underlying EBITDA rose 7.2% in the first half to £344m.
The latest job cut numbers come after Morrisons closed 17 of its stores across the UK earlier this year, with the final shop in Haxby, North Yorkshire, shutting its doors on May 14.
CEO Rami Baitiéh stated: " Against the backdrop of a challenging macro environment, with inflation driving subdued consumer sentiment, value remains at the forefront of customers' minds.
"Throughout the first half, we've worked hard on helping customers through these challenges with a rigorous focus on price, promotions and meaningful rewards for loyalty."
Earlier this year, Morrisons also shuttered more than 50 cafés as part of cost-cutting measures, placing 365 additional jobs in jeopardy.
However, the grocer isn't the only one trimming its workforce - back in February, Aldi confirmed intentions to axe up to 350 positions at its UK headquarters in Atherstone, near Birmingham. Both Tesco and Sainsbury's have also implemented redundancies following last October's Budget.
In January, Sainsbury's revealed it would be slashing 3,000 jobs and shutting all in-store cafés, whilst Tesco eliminated 400 positions in an effort to "simplify" operations.
Full list of Morrisons store closures
All the stores closed are Morrisons Daily convenience stores, not full-scale supermarkets. Here are the ones which closed earlier this year.
Bath, Moorland Road
Exeter, 51 Sidwell Street
Goring-By-Sea, Strand Para
Gorleston, Lowestoft Road
Great Barr, Queslett Road
Haxby Village
Peebles, 3-5 Old Town
Poole, Waterloo Estate
Romsey, The Cornmarket
Selsdon, Featherbed Lane
Shenfield, 214 Hutton Road
Stewarton, Lainshaw Street
Tonbridge Higham, Lane Est
Whickham, Oakfield Road
Woking, Westfield Road
Wokingham, 40 Peach Street
Worle
Morrisons Café closures
Here are all the Morrisons café branches which have shut.
Bradford Thornbury
Paisley Falside Rd
London Queensbury
Portsmouth
Great Park
Banchory North Deeside Rd
Failsworth Poplar Street
Blackburn Railway Road
Leeds Swinnow Rd
London Wood Green
Kirkham Poulton St
Lutterworth Bitteswell Rd
Stirchley
Leeds Horsforth
London Erith
Crowborough
Bellshill John St
Dumbarton Glasgow Rd
East Kilbride Lindsayfield
East Kilbride Stewartfield
Glasgow Newlands
Largs Irvine Rd
Troon Academy St
Wishaw Kirk Rd
Newcastle UT Cowgate
Northampton Kettering Road
Bromsgrove Buntsford Ind Pk
Solihull Warwick Rd
Brecon Free St
Caernarfon North Rd
Hadleigh
London - Harrow - Hatch End
High Wycombe Temple End
Leighton Buzzard Lake St
London Stratford
Sidcup Westwood Lane
Welwyn Garden City Black Fan Rd
Warminster Weymouth St
Oxted Station Yard
Reigate Bell St
Borehamwood
Weybridge - Monument Hill
Bathgate
Erskine Bridgewater SC
Gorleston Blackwell Road
Connah's Quay
Mansfield Woodhouse
Elland
Gloucester - Metz Way
Watford - Ascot Road
Littlehampton - Wick
Helensburgh
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