Ocado to axe 1,000 jobs in cost-cutting drive

Ocado to axe 1,000 jobs in cost-cutting drive

Ocado Group has announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 1,000 employees, which represents around 5% of its global staff. This move is part of the company’s broader effort to lower operational costs over the next year. Tim Steiner, the chief executive of the technology-driven online grocery and logistics firm, indicated that a “significant number” of jobs would be eliminated as the business restructures.

Currently, Ocado employs roughly 20,000 people worldwide, with most of them based in the United Kingdom. The job reductions will predominantly affect the UK operations, particularly at the company’s headquarters located in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. The majority of the layoffs are expected to come from technology and support divisions within the company.

Ocado provides advanced technological solutions for supermarket distribution centers and also operates an online grocery service in partnership with Marks & Spencer. The company faced setbacks last year when its North American collaborators, Kroger in the United States and Sobeys in Canada, announced they would be shutting down Ocado-managed centers, leading to a significant drop in Ocado’s share price.

In response, Ocado expects the planned restructuring to reduce expenses by approximately £150 million. Tim Steiner stressed that these measures are designed to “reflect the lower structural cost base that we have signalled over recent years.” He acknowledged the difficult impact these changes will have, stating, “Regrettably, this means a significant number of roles will no longer be required,” while assuring that the affected employees will receive support throughout the transition process

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More