Tesco to axe 1,700 deputy managers

UK retailer Tesco plans to dissolve 1,700 deputy manager positions in its Express convenience stores as part of its strategy to improve shopping experience and simplify its business, according to a company release.

The deputy managers will be replaced by 3,300 shift leaders, increasing staff by 1,500.

The creation of the shift leader role aims to make its chain of more than 1,800 Express stores more responsive to customer needs amid rapidly changing retail market.

"To help improve our service to customers in our Express stores we are aiming to have more of our colleagues on the shop floor, more often," explained Tracey Clements, Managing Director of Convenience at Tesco.

Consultations with deputy managers will take place this week and will be offered new shift leader positions or alternative roles in other Tesco stores.

"We appreciate that these changes will impact our Deputy Manager colleagues, and will do everything we can to support them throughout this period,” said Clements.