These cuts follow more than 8,800 job losses the previous year and the chain has also closed 52 cafes
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 follow 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 cuts 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
