More than 120 jobs are at risk after Waitrose confirmed proposals to shut its store in Newcastle city centre amid “challenging” trading conditions.
The store opened in Newcastle’s Eldon Square shopping complex 14 years ago and has proved popular with city centre workers and residents as well as visiting shoppers. However, owner John Lewis Partnership has now confirmed that the Newcastle store and the Croydon have both been earmarked for closure, putting jobs on the line.
A total of 123 staff members – which the firm refer to as ‘partners’ – are affected in Newcastle, and it is understood that 70 are affected at the Croydon store. The company said that the shop will close on November 12, subject to consultation with its partners working there, and that the announcement does not affect the John Lewis department store in Eldon Square.
