{"id":139668,"title":"Morrisons Cuts Nearly 5,000 Jobs as Debt and Losses Mount","publisher":"Share Talk","author":"sharetalk","published":"2026-08-18T14:33:08+00:00","modified":"2026-08-18T14:33:08+00:00","canonical_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/morrisons-cuts-nearly-5000-jobs-as-debt-and-losses-mount/","markdown_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/morrisons-cuts-nearly-5000-jobs-as-debt-and-losses-mount.md","json_url":"https://www.share-talk.com/morrisons-cuts-nearly-5000-jobs-as-debt-and-losses-mount.json","category":"B2B","categories":["B2B","Business & Support Services","Food & Beverages","Food Industry","Technology","Technology, Media & Telecoms"],"tags":["Aldi","Asda","diesel","EG Group","Marks & Spencer","Morrisons","Ocado","petrol","petrol station","RAC","Sainsbury","supermarket","Tesco"],"featured_image":"https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/dreamstime_l_184734025-scaled-1.webp?fit=750%2C406&quality=80&ssl=1","format":"news","language":"en-GB","content":"**Morrisons cut almost 5,000 jobs last year** as the supermarket sought to control costs amid heavy debt and widening losses.\n\nAverage monthly staff numbers fell **5% from 101,144 to 96,232** in the 12 months to October 2025, according to newly filed accounts.\n\nMost of the reduction came from stores, where headcount fell by more than **4,200**, while manufacturing and distribution roles also declined.\n\nMorrisons said there was no additional large-scale redundancy programme, with much of the reduction coming from not replacing staff who left. The company also pointed to the closure of its newspaper delivery service, management restructuring and changes to its bakery operations.\n\nDespite the lower headcount, total staffing costs edged higher to **£2.1 billion**, partly because employer National Insurance and other social security costs rose by £30 million to £172 million.\n\nThe cuts come as Morrisons battles to regain ground from **Lidl and Aldi**, with Lidl having overtaken it in UK grocery market share this year.\n\nThe group remains under pressure from the debt taken on following its £7 billion acquisition by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 2021. Net debt at the parent company rose to **£7.5 billion**, while Morrisons swung to a **£926 million pre-tax loss**, reflecting the impact of a cyber attack and asset write-downs.\n\nRevenue nevertheless increased **2.8% to £15.7 billion**, while underlying earnings from continuing operations were broadly flat at £835 million.\n\nMorrisons is also exploring ways to raise cash from its property portfolio, including a potential **£600 million sale-and-leaseback deal**, while continuing to close underperforming convenience stores."}