Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket chain, may cut thousands of jobs by closing in-store meat, fish and delicatessen counters and by replacing staff canteens with vending machines, the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported, citing industry sources. Up to 15,000 jobs could be put at risk by the changes, which are likely to affect the majority of Tesco's 732 larger stores, the report said, adding that details are expected to be announced this week.

A spokesman for Tesco declined to comment on the details of the report. "We're always looking at ways to run our business more simply and efficiently," he said. "Whenever we make changes in our business, colleagues are always the first to know."

The company will close some fresh food counters and scale back the opening hours of others, the newspaper said. Tesco set out a plan in October 2016 to reduce its operating costs by 1.5 billion pounds ($2 billion) over three years by making its stores and its distribution network more efficient.

In the last two years it has cut 1,200 jobs at its head office and 1,100 jobs in Cardiff with the closure of a customer service centre. Management has also been culled at its convenience stores.

Copyright Reuters, 2019