Asda store web

The job cuts are thought to apply to every Asda store across the UK

More than 800 Asda jobs are believed to be risk after it emerged the Walmart-owned supermarket has launched a consultation with stores over slashing management positions.

The proposals are thought to apply to every Asda store across the UK, with section leader positions in its grocery home shopping and ambient teams in the firing line.

The Guardian reported today that 842 section leaders could be cut from the management teams or face pay cuts.

It is the latest round in a series of major job cuts by the supermarket giant.

In September, it was announced more than 300 Asda head office staff were being made redundant.

A month earlier, it announced redundancy consultations with more than 3,000 store staff, which is thought to have led to around 300 redundancies.

The latest move comes with Asda still trying to strip out costs to compete with the discounters, as CEO-in-waiting Roger Burnley prepares to take over from Sean Clarke at the helm on 1 January.

“In November, we began consulting with colleagues in our grocery home shopping and ambient teams about potential changes to the way they work to improve availability for customers,” said an Asda spokesman.

“In an ever-changing sector, these proposed changes are about making sure we’re doing the best job for our customers in the most efficient way possible. Whilst these are only proposals, we know talking about change is unsettling which is why we’re working with our colleagues to get their views before any final decisions are made early next year. Once we’re clear on a course of action, we’ll talk to our colleagues first and foremost and as quickly as possible.”