Discount store may cut 1,500 jobs

A Nottinghamshire-based discount store has confirmed it may cut up to 1,500 jobs if it adopts a new stock supply system next year.

Wilkinson, founded in Leicestershire, has 312 stores and employs about 25,000 staff in England and Wales.

The company, now based in Worksop, said the new system would reduce the need for stock handling in store and the volume of items held at branches.

It emphasised the possible cuts were not linked to the economic downturn.

The new stock handling system is being trialled at 33 shops in the Midlands and Yorkshire.

New System

Wilkinson said everything possible was being done to ensure redundancies were kept to a minimum and sales levels were "bearing up very, very well".

A company spokesman said: "The company has commenced early and open discussions with its recognised union, the GMB, so that affected team members will benefit well in advance from priority consideration for alternative posts as they become available.

"This process is designed to eliminate, wherever possible, the need for redundancies."