More than 1,200 jobs are at risk across the UK as Asda has announced that it will restructure its bakeries.
The chain said the proposal followed ‘a notable shift in customer buying behaviours’ in recent years.
The move means a centralised bakery will be in place rather than having the items baked at local stores, Asda said.
Asda colleagues will be redeployed into alternative roles within the chain, with redundancy being ‘the last option’.
The restructuring means the range of bakery products offered would be widened and fresh products would be baked several times a day, compared with just once a day at present, Asda said.
Last year Tesco announced a similar restructuring of its in-store bakeries.