UK department store chain John Lewis to cut almost 400 jobs

British department store chain John Lewis is to axe nearly 400 jobs in a rationalisation of its in-store operations after a fall in profits.

The group said it was consulting 773 people who are at risk of redundancy. The affected workers are employed in in-store restaurants, which will move towards serving more pre-prepared food, and administrators who liaise with customers who have requested in-home services such as measurement and fitting. An average store will employ 18 fewer workers once the changes are complete.

Dino Rocos, Operations Director at John Lewis, said:

Our Partners are passionate about offering the very best customer service and these proposals will allow us to modernise our business as it adapts to the changing needs of our customers and the role that shops play in their lives.