Tesco announces redundancies at stores across the UK

This afternoon, the retailer said 1,816 bakery staff were at risk of redundancy as part of an overhaul on its bakery services.

Tesco which has supermarkets with in-store bakeries in County Durham, Teesside and Tyne and Wear, said changes would take place in May.

Tesco Extra in Durham's Dragonville estate Picture: GOOGLE

The retailer said it would be working to convert 58 of its bakeries to only finish off pre-baked products in-store.

While a further 201 sites would be set up to only bake some of its most popular items from scratch.

Tesco said the move, which will see bakeries at 257 other sites remain unchanged, said it needed fewer staff members.

Although the exact details and locations of affected stores has not yet been released by the retailer.

Tesco in Northallerton, North Yorkshire Picture: GOOGLE

On Tuesday Jason Tarry, Tesco's UK and ROI chief executive, said: "We need to adapt to changing customer demand and tastes for bakery products so that we continue to offer customers a market-leading bakery range in store.

"We know this will be very difficult for colleagues who are impacted, and our priority is to support them through this process. We hope that many will choose to stay with us in alternative roles."

Tesco said it will look to find other jobs for the staff, with "thousands of store vacancies" expected to be available across its network between now and May.

'Devastating and upsetting news'

Pauline Foulkes, national officer at the Usdaw union, said: "This is devastating and upsetting news for our members who work in the bakery operations.

"Usdaw will be entering into collective consultation with Tesco to consider the business case for these planned changes over the coming weeks."

A spokesperson told The Northern Echo that the retailer was not in a position to announce which of its stores would be affected through the latest wave of cuts.