Morrisons axes 3,600 jobs and closes 17 stores after 'challenging environment'
Morrisons slashed over 3,600 positions as it returned to profitability for the first time since its 2021 private equity buyout, the company announced today.
The Bradford-headquartered grocery giant posted a pre-tax profit of £2.1bn for the year ending 27 October 2024, reversing losses of £919m from the previous year and £1.3bn the year prior, according to new filings submitted to Companies House.
Nevertheless, Morrisons reduced its workforce from 104,819 to 101,144 during this timeframe. In the last 12 months it also closed 17 Morrisons Daily stores and axed 52 cafes including those in Dumbarton, East Kirkbride, Glasgow, Largs and Troon.
Shop floor personnel numbers fell from 88,258 to 85,508, manufacturing positions dropped from 7,865 to 7,612, warehouse workers declined from 5,783 to 5,424, and corporate office staff decreased from 2,913 to 2,600.
These cuts come on top of more than 8,800 redundancies the year before.
The chain's turnover fell from £18.3bn to £17bn despite comparable store sales rising 3.9% and overall sales growing 4.2% to £3.9bn in the second quarter of its current financial year. Underlying EBITDA increased 7.2% in the first half to £344m.
The recent redundancy figures follow Morrisons shuttering 17 of its outlets across the UK earlier this year, with the last branch in Haxby, North Yorkshire, closing on May 14.
Chief Executive Rami Baitiéh commented: "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 in the year, Morrisons took the decision to close over 50 cafés as part of cost-saving initiatives, putting an additional 365 jobs at risk.
Yet, Morrisons isn't alone in downsizing its staff - back in February, Aldi announced plans to cut up to 350 roles at its UK head office in Atherstone, near Birmingham. Tesco and Sainsbury's have also made job cuts following last October's Budget.
In January, Sainsbury's disclosed plans to cut 3,000 jobs and close all its in-store cafés, while Tesco axed 400 positions in a bid to "simplify" its 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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