UK Retailers Launch Massive Hiring to Support Virus-Strained Logistics--Update
March 20 2020 - 3:13PM
Dow Jones News
By Matteo Castia
Tesco PLC said Friday that it is offering 20,000 new jobs to
increase its store-based headcount as part of its response to
soaring demand amid coronavirus concerns among customers.
Chief People Officer Natasha Adams said that new hires -- all
contracted temporarily -- will help the U.K.'s largest grocer by
market share to keep its shelves "full for customers."
Similarly, German discounter Aldi said Friday that is hiring
9,000 new employees across the U.K. to enhance its logistics in the
country amid increasing demand boosted by the coronavirus
crisis.
The grocer said that it has opened 5,000 permanent positions and
4,000 temporary ones to step up stock replenishing at its stores
and to increase workforce at its distribution centers and
supermarkets.
Also on Friday, Walmart Inc.'s U.K. business Asda Group Ltd.
said that applications are open for 5,000 temporary workers, and
that it will priorite those who have lost their jobs due to the
forced closure of businesses in the food and travel sectors due to
virus containment requirements.
These actions come shortly after Co-operative Group said on
Thursday that it is recruiting 5,000 new employees in an effort to
cover the extra store-based roles made necessary by mounting
demand.
The new personnel will be working on temporary contracts and
supporting the stock-replenishing chain, customer assistance, and
the growing number of online orders.
Also on Thursday, Lidl Great Britain Ltd. said that it would
recruit 2,500 recently laid-off staff. The new positions at Lidl
are fixed-term and intended to reinforce the company's re-stocking
process.
Both Lidl and Co-op said that they aim to hire candidates from
the hospitality sector who have lost their jobs due to the closure
of restaurants and pubs across the country.
First among the grocers in the country, Wm. Morrison
Supermarkets PLC said Tuesday that it would open 3,500 new
positions to strengthen its home delivery services after requests
for food dispatches spiked over fears of contagion.
The U.K.'s fourth larger grocer by market share said that it
would reinforce its deliveries to cover "many more households",
employing 2,500 pickers and drivers, and 1,000 workers for
distribution centers.
To date, J Sainsbury PLC remains the only among the four 'big
four' British retailer to have not launched a coronavirus-related
recruiting campaign to integrate its workforce.
Write to Matteo Castia at matteo.castia@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 20, 2020 14:58 ET (18:58 GMT)
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