A MAJOR UK supermarket is set to axe around 3000 managerial roles across its stores as part of a restructure which will create more shop-floor jobs.

The supermarket said the scheme will result in 4000 more employees and the creation of 7000 new hourly-paid roles.

A number of the new positions will be on Morrisons’ Market Street counters – where butchers, bakers, fishmongers and other fresh food specialists serve customers.

The company said that managers who are kept on will “concentrate on helping frontline colleagues to do their job and run their stores”.

READ MORE: Aldi set to open six more stores across Scotland

David Lepley, Morrisons group retail director, said: “This proposal means more frontline colleagues improving product availability and helping customers.

“Whilst there will be a short period of uncertainty for some managers affected by these proposals, we will be supporting them through this process and there are jobs available for everybody who wants to continue to work at Morrisons.

“There will also be more roles with greater flexibility that are very attractive to colleagues with families.”

The move, which is the latest jobs shake-up at a major grocer, comes days after rival supermarket Sainsbury’s announced plans to cut hundreds more managerial jobs after taking over Argos.

And earlier this month, it was reported that more than 2800 Asda workers could lose their jobs as consultations take place to cut back-office roles at the Walmart-owned retailer.

Last year another rival, Tesco, said it would cut around 4500 jobs.

These were planned to be predominantly from its 153 mid-size Metro stores in its most recent round of redundancies.

Morrisons, as well as its rivals, has come under pressure from German discount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl in recent years.

The two companies have grown rapidly since entering the UK market.

Lidl reported its Christmas sales this year had grown by 10.3% from the previous year – while Aldi’s increased by 5.9%.

Meanwhile, Morrisons recently posted falling sales over the all-important festival season, reporting being impacted by “unusually challenging” trading and shopper uncertainty.

Joanne McGuinness, national officer of the Usdaw union, said: “This is a big upheaval for the Morrisons store management team and is devastating news for our members.

“We will be entering into consultations with the company on behalf of our members affected by these changes.

“Despite a large number of hourly paid roles being created, they will clearly not be a like-for-like position for the managers impacted. We are providing members with the support, advice and representation they require during this difficult time.”

Shares in the retailer fell 1.2% to 182.5p yesterday.