Tesco to 'axe up to 15,000 jobs and close meat, fish and delicatessen counters' in move expected to affect the supermarket's 732 larger stores

Tesco could axe up to 15,000 jobs in a cull that is expected to put some of its meat, fish and delicatessen counters in the firing line, industry sources said.

Britain’s largest supermarket chain has triggered the painful review after one of the toughest Christmas trading periods on record when many retailers struggled to grow sales.

The company is considering an overhaul of in-store bakeries, using frozen instead of fresh dough, and replacing staff canteens in some stores with vending machines.

Tesco could axe up to 15,000 jobs in a cull that is expected to put some of its meat, fish and delicatessen counters in the firing line, industry sources said. Stock image of Tesco fish counter

The plans are expected to affect the majority of Tesco’s 732 larger stores with details likely to be announced this week.

Tesco, which will need to consult with staff before any action is taken, declined to discuss the plans.

A spokesman said: ‘Whenever we make changes in our business, colleagues are always the first to know.’

But industry sources said closing fresh food counters or scaling some back to open on fewer days each week could prove to be an unpopular move with customers.

One added that losing popular services from large stores would be ‘stripping out differences’ and could mean that shoppers go elsewhere.

‘I think it’s very difficult to see how anyone could regard this as positive unless all you’re looking at is short term profits,’ retail analyst Richard Hyman said.