John Lewis and Waitrose to cut 1,000 jobs
They say it's to 'simplify management structures'
Around 1,000 people are going to be made redundant across John Lewis and Waitrose stores.
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has told staff that it is proposing the job losses across its department stores and Waitrose supermarkets.
The company said the shake-up will take place as part of a simplification of store management.
It comes after a raft of recent job cuts, which included the closure of eight John Lewis stores earlier this year.
The company currently operates 331 Waitrose stores and 34 John Lewis shops across the UK.
JLP added that it will support employees who wish to stay in the business in finding new roles and will seek to minimise compulsory redundancies through voluntary redundancy and severance options.
A John Lewis Partnership spokesperson said: “We have announced to our partners our intention to simplify our management structures in Waitrose and John Lewis stores, which will allow us to reinvest in what matters most to our customers.”
Who owns the High Street brands?
Burtons and Dorothy Perkins
Online retailer Boohoo have bought both the Dorothy Perkins and Burton brands from Arcadia group. They haven't taken the actual shops though, which will permanently close.
Wallis
Fashion brand Wallis was also part of the £25.2 million deal that Boohoo made for parts of the Arcadia group, including Burton and Dorothy Perkins, which mean the Wallis shops will also leave the High Street.
Topshop & Topman
ASOS have bought this part of the failed Arcadia group, paying £292 million for brands including Topshop and Topman. The shops themselves were not part of the deal though, so it looks like they will close.
Miss Selfridge
Miss Selfridge was another one of the brands that ASOS bought alongside Topshop, Topman and HIIT and will also mean the shops will close.
Debenhams
Boohoo have also bought the Debenhams in a £55 million deal which saw the company's 242-year-old name survive but all 118 stores shut.
Oasis and Warehouse
Boohoo have been expanding for the last few years - in 2020 they bought Oasis and Warehouse's online element for £5.25 million as the shops had already closed.
Karen Millen & Coast
Boohoo also bought the brands Karen Millen and Coast in 2019 when it went into administration and stores closed.