Primark to cut 400 shop floor jobs across UK stores amid major restructuring plans

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Primark is due to axe 400 shop floor jobs across the chain's UK stores as part of major restructuring plans. The retailer, which is owned by Associated British Foods, said it had launched a consultation with staff as part of plans to simplify its UK store retail management structure.

It comes as the group revealed a hit to the fashion chain’s recent trading as Omicron kept shoppers away from stores, the PA News Agency reports. READ MORE:Man facing £2,000 and court for lockdown Lake District walk AB Foods said Primark’s UK like-for-like sales were 10% lower in the 16 weeks to January 8 when compared with pre-pandemic levels two years ago, with so-called shopper footfall hit by the rapid rise in Omicron cases.

However, AB Foods said trading had improved in recent weeks as Omicron fears have eased and added that like-for-like sales were higher when compared with the final quarter of its last financial year, when stores were shut due to lockdown measures.

Total Primark sales were 36% ahead year-on-year, it added. AB Foods said supply chain problems had begun to ease since last autumn, although it is still seeing some delays at ports and with shipments.