Distribution jobs threat at Sainsbury’s
MORE THAN 360 jobs could go on Teesside as Sainsbury’s pulls its distribution business out of the region.
Two sites are set to close as the supermarket giant consolidates deliveries to its growing estate of convenience stores, including former Bells grocers in Teesside, from a new 550,000sq ft warehouse in Sherburn in Elmet, West Yorkshire.
Staff, who are employed by logistics operator Wincanton at Maltby and Skelton, which was formerly owned by Bells, said they had been taken completely by surprise, but a Wincanton spokesman said such decisions were “relatively common” among the big four retailers as they rescoped their operations.
“Sainsbury’s has seen impressive growth in convenience food sales and the infrastructure they have in their current supply chain cannot cope with the demand. That’s no reflection on the staff at the two distribution centres.”
Consultation with staff will run until the end of May at Skelton and July at Maltby, he said.
Where possible, staff would be offered a relocation to other Wincanton-operated sites at Darlington, Stockton, Spennymoor, and Redcar.
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