Dixons Carphone 'remains committed' to stores despite eliminating 800 roles

Electricals retailer to introduce flatter management structure at its UK and Ireland stores as COVID-19 continues to bite

Dixons Carphone's CEO has vowed the firm is "committed" to retaining a bricks ‘n' mortar presence despite announcing plans to shelve another 800 in-store roles.

In a statement today, Mark Allsop said it was "not an easy decision" as he explained that a push to introduce a flatter management structure at UK and Irish stores would result in more job losses at the electricals retailer.

The move comes after Dixons Carphone, pre-lockdown, announced 2,900 redundancies amid its decision to shutter all standalone Carphone Warehouse stores.

Under the latest proposed restructure, the retailer plans to remove its in-store retail manager, assistant manager and team leader roles.

Although it also plans to introduce some new roles - including in the area of customer experience and operational excellence - the changes will result in an overall reduction of 800 roles.

The bombshell comes in a week that has already seen Pizza Express confirm that 1,100 jobs are at risk as COVID-19 continues to take its toll on an already depleted high street.

"We remain committed to our stores as part of an omnichannel future, where we offer the best of online and stores to our customers," Allsop said.

"As part of this we want to empower our store leadership teams, create a flatter management structure and make it easy for our customers to shop with us, however they choose. This proposal will ensure in-store roles are focused on giving a seamless customer experience and exceptional service across all our customer channels, whether online or in-store.

"Sadly, this proposal means we have now entered into consultation with some of our store colleagues. This was not an easy decision and we'll do everything possible to look after those colleagues we can't find new roles for, financially and otherwise."