UK-based Morrisons has placed several head office roles at risk of redundancy as part of a wider restructuring programme focused on AI, data and automation.

In a statement to Retail Insight Network, a spokesperson said the supermarket began a long-term programme in 2025 to “re-engineer certain of its business functions” to focus on core customer priorities, streamline processes and structures, automate manual tasks, and make greater use of data and AI to improve performance.

The grocer said the multi-year programme is intended to ensure its central functions are better positioned to support stores and strengthen the business in what it described as “very challenging market conditions”.

As part of the overhaul, Morrisons said it is proposing changes across a number of areas within its central structure, with some head office roles now at risk.

The retailer said: “This will involve making some tough but necessary decisions which will impact on colleagues in our head office, where we are proposing to place a number of roles at risk of redundancy.”

Morrisons added that it will support affected employees during the process, including by helping them seek alternative roles elsewhere in the business where possible.

A consultation with colleagues has now begun.

Several media reports have said Morrisons is planning to cut around 200 head office roles. However, the company did not confirm the number of roles affected in its statement to Retail Insight Network.

The roles at risk are estimated to account for 8% of the site’s workforce, while Morrisons employs 95,000 people in total.

The announcement comes amid wider restructuring efforts across the retail sector.

Ingka Group said last month it may eliminate 800 roles across its group functions as part of efforts to streamline operations and cut costs.

In the same month, Amazon has reduced staffing in its robotics division as part of a broader cost-cutting programme that has removed more than 57,000 corporate roles since late 2022, including 16,000 in January 2026.

In February, Ocado Group commented that it plans to cut 1,000 roles and reorganise its technology operations following fulfilment centre closures.

Morrisons’ restructuring follows its latest trading update, which showed like-for-like sales rose 2.8% for the quarter ending 25 January 2025/2026.

The company noted it is monitoring “current international events” for potential impacts on consumers and supply chains.