Tesco to end 24-hour opening at 20 stores including Stourbridge and Cannock
Round-the-clock opening at Tesco stores in Stourbridge and Cannock will cease – with dozens of workers' jobs affected, the retail giant has announced.
The company is scrapping 24-hour opening at 20 of its stores across the country, including the store in the Crown Centre and in Hayes Way, Heath Hayes.
The opening hours will change to 6am to midnight.
As part of the changes, night shifts will end for staff at 46 of its stores. However, not all the stores have yet been disclosed publicly by the retail chain.
A total of 1,750 employees are affected with a 45-day consultation period launched.
It comes five months after Tesco announced it was scrapping 24-hour opening at its store in Silver Street, Brownhills.
Tesco also has 24-hour stores at Burnt Tree on the Dudley-Sandwell border, West Bromwich, Walsall, Willenhall, Stafford, Rugeley, Hednesford and Lichfield - but these are not affected.
A spokesman for the firm said the changes were to ensure the 'stores were the best they could be during the busiest times'.
He added the stores had low numbers of people visiting overnight.
Tesco UK chief operating officer Tony Hoggett said: "We're making some changes to the way a small number of our stores operate to help us run them more simply and deliver the best possible service to customers.
"Where there have been changes to a colleague's role we will work with them to ensure they are fully supported."
The Express & Star understands overnight workers are being offered three options as part of the consultation.
They can either take redundancy, find a nearby Tesco offering overnight shifts or change their shifts at their existing store.
Tesco in Stourbridge opened three years ago as part of the redeveloped Crown Centre.
The supermarket was created along with new shops units and new entrances to the library and town hall.
The store at Heath Hayes has been open for about 10 years.
Cannock West Ward Councillor Paul Snape said: "I know they have been monitoring the customers numbers between midnight and 6am.
"And with 24 hour stores nearby in Rugeley and Hednesford I guess they have come to a decision the Heath Hayes 24-hour opening is no longer needed. It is a business decision."
