Asda Begins Consultation With Staff Over 2,500 Potential Job Losses

Supermarket giant Asda has started a consultation with staff over potential job losses next year which could total up to 2,500.

The news comes amid a proposed merger between Asda and fellow supermarket giant Sainsbury’s, which advertising watchdogs have previously warned could lead to store closures.

The chain told HuffPost UK it had begun discussions with workers over the phone.

It said in a statement: “In a competitive retail market, where customers rightly expect great value and ease of service, we must always look at how we can work more quickly and efficiently for them – and inevitably, that means we need to consider changing the roles we need our colleagues to do or the hours needed in particular parts of our stores.

“We believe the proposed changes we are consulting on would allow us to do a better job for our customers.

“We also recognise that discussions about potential change aren’t easy.”