Tesco packaging team faces redundancies

Supermarket group Tesco is poised to make a number of its in-house packaging design team redundant as part of a project to “redesign the way design is used within Tesco”, say sources close to the company.

Up to six design executives are believed to have been offered voluntary redundancy from the company as part of the plan. If they do not accept this their posts are thought likely to be axed anyway. All six work on packaging design at middle management level, and were told of the plans late last month.

A spokeswoman for Tesco has confirmed that one voluntary redundancy has been agreed in the department, but was unable to comment on any plans for further staff losses.

It is thought that Tesco’s plan will pass responsibility for packaging design to staff in the trading division of the company in the interests of long-term efficiency. Remaining design staff will be integrated into the trading division.

Sources close to the company say that it is also likely to increase efforts to cut down on the number of external design groups used.