Sainsbury’s plans to close two Argos depots
Sainsbury’s is planning to close two Argos distribution sites in a move that will put 1,400 jobs at risk.
The warehouses in Basildon in Essex and Heywood in Greater Manchester are expected to close by 2026. This will leave Sainsbury’s with three non-food warehouses that will serve both Argos and Sainsbury’s.
The move is part of a wider revamp of Sainsbury’s general merchandise operations and will also impact jobs in third-party operations.
The retailer said those affected by the plans will be given the chance to apply for jobs elsewhere in the business.
Sainsbury’s will also close its three remaining Habitat showrooms later this year and instead launch a digital showroom. In addition, its Milton Keynes head office will be shut down due to more staff choosing to work from home, although this will result in no job losses.
Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: “As part of our plans to create a simpler business, we previously set out our intention to integrate our Argos and Sainsbury’s logistic networks.
“Over the last few years, we’ve been working hard to transform this network as we make our business simpler, more efficient and more effective for customers. This also allows us to reduce costs, so we can invest where it will make the most impact for customers.”
