Tesco Poland has announced that it plans to close 18 loss-making stores across the country.
The retailer also said that it is reducing the number of team managers in large stores, with the aim of providing a better and more profitable service.
"The decision to close stores is never easy, but sometimes necessary," said Martin Behan, managing director of Tesco Poland.
"Now the most important thing for us is to provide support for employees affected by changes, including offering as many alternative positions as possible in nearby stores."
The stores that are set to be closed are Gliwice Toszecka, Rydułtowy Ładna, Siemianowice Śląskie, Skoczów Morcinka, Garwolin Targowa, Oświęcim Nojego, Oświęcim Śniadeckiego, Ruda Śląska Górnośląska, Lubaczów Baziaka, Brzeszcze, Knurów 1 Maja, Ustroń Cieszyńska, Świdnica Marcinkowskiego, Dębica Kościuszki, Środa Wielkopolska, Stalowa Wola Okulickiego, Łódź Przybyszewskiego and Piotrków Trybunalski Szkolna.
Network Optimisation
Tesco Poland's network optimisation plans have been in place for a number of years. In 2017, the retailer closed 11 stores across the country, after closing 15 outlets in the previous two years.
"We are continuing the process of change in our business, which will allow us to translate the improving sales results into further development, based on higher profitability," added Behan.
"This, in turn, will help us invest in our colleagues and colleagues and our clients more effectively in the future."
Over the Christmas trading period, Tesco's operations in Central Europe saw a 0.8% like-for-like sales increase.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
