HUNDREDS of jobs are at risk as a supermarket aims to 'restructure' in-store bakeries.

The restructure of Tesco in-store bakery operations will put over 1,800 roles at risk – these include stores in Mold, Broughton and Wrexham.

Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw will be entering into collective consultation with Tesco after the company announcement that will result in 1,816 roles being put at risk of redundancy.

Pauline Foulkes, National Officer said: “This is devastating and upsetting news for our members who work in the bakery operations. Usdaw will be entering into collective consultation with Tesco to consider the business case for these planned changes over the coming weeks.

“Many of those affected by the proposed changes are skilled workers. While we will do everything possible to maintain jobs or support impacted staff to redeploy into alternative roles, the reality is the opportunities to find suitable alternative skilled roles may be limited for these workers.

“Usdaw representatives will be available to support and advise affected members during this difficult time and throughout the consultation period.”

It is not yet known how many jobs will be affected in Flintshire and Wrexham but a Tesco spokesman confirmed consultations have begun.

Jason Tarry, UK and ROI said Tesco needs to ‘adapt to changing customer demands’.

From May, the changes will be made to large in-store bakeries including altering space and range to 'cater to customer demand'.

In 201 stores the most popular products will continue to be baked from scratch with other products moving to part-baked. And in 58 stores Tesco will be converting the bakery to 'full bake-off' where all products are delivered pre-prepared, then baked and finished in store.

Due to some 'simplified routines' from the changes, fewer colleagues will be needed.

Mr Terry said their priority will be to ‘support those colleagues impacted’ including finding an alternative role for those wishing to stay in the company.

The CEO added: “We need to adapt to changing customer demand and tastes for bakery products so that we continue to offer customers a market-leading bakery range in store.

“We know this will be very difficult for colleagues who are impacted, and our priority is to support them through this process. We hope that many will choose to stay with us in alternative roles.”