Jobs are set to be lost at bakery shops across Tayside and Fife.
Greggs has announced plans to cut more than 800 jobs as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The boss warned that the bakery chain “will not be profitable as a business” if sales continue at the rates they have been in lockdown, as it was confirmed that 820 staff will be let go.
Need to part company with colleagues
In a statement posted on the Greggs employee information website earlier this week, chief executive Roger Whiteside said: “Covid trading conditions have forced this action onto our business and we are all very saddened by the need to part company with around 820 friends and colleagues, many of whom have worked with us for many years.”
He went on to say that “the battle with Covid hasn’t gone away and is intensifying further” as lockdown measures continue to be in place across the four nations of the UK.
Mr Whiteside added: “At lockdown levels of sales, even after all of the mitigating action that we have taken, Greggs will not be profitable as a business and there can be no room for complacency.”
Staff asked to cut hours
At the end of September, the Newcastle-based chain said it was in talks with staff to cut hours to try and minimise job losses when the furlough scheme was expected to end in October.
At the time it told investors its “immediate priority” is to complete the consultation and confirm the financial impact of the move when the consultation ends in November.
The firm said: “With business activity levels remaining below normal for the foreseeable future we must change the way we work to be as productive and flexible as we can in order to protect as many jobs as possible for the long term.
Consultation with Tayside and Fife workers to reduce hours or face job cuts
“We have completed a review of our activity and requirements in every part of the business and are now proposing a series of changes which are the subject of a collective consultation with union and employee representatives.
“Our aim is to minimise the risk of job losses by negotiating reduced hours in our shops and we will update on the outcome of the consultation when concluded.”
