Body of man found in house
GEORGE at Asda has cut 50 jobs at its head office in Lutterworth.
The business said it had laid off around 10 per cent of the 500-strong team.
It said the cuts were part of a restructuring to replace a traditional “hierarchical” operating structure with a more “agile and responsive” model so that staff would find it easier to work across different product ranges.
A spokesman for the discount supermarket clothes brand said the cuts were not related to the coronavirus pandemic – although the company has previously said clothes sales were down at the height of the lockdown.
He said: “The fashion retail sector continues to change and evolve at pace and we have to respond accordingly to remain competitive. demand for clothing declined, parents continued to prioritise their children and there was an increased demand for children’s clothing, especially pyjamas, jogging bottoms, multi-pack shorts and T-shirts, as kids spent more time at home with their parents.
“Looking ahead to the second half of the year, finances remain a key concern for consumers as the economic consequences of the pandemic become more apparent.”
It added: “Customers continue to see themselves spending more time at home due to the pandemic, and spending on small, affordable luxuries for the home and indulgent treats is predicted to continue.”
It said George Home sales were growing 13 per cent ahead of the market.
The spokesman said the latest structural changes would help the business get products to market quicker.
He said the cuts affected staff across the board and no jobs were going within the broader Asda group or within its stores.
He said: “It is not a response to
Covid-19. It would have happened anyway.
“The fashion retail sector is so fastmoving that this will increase the speed at getting lifestyle products to market, so is more a reflection of the industry.”
George was the first supermarket clothing brand back in 1990 after Next founder George Davies was asked to produce a range that was “high quality, high value and with its own identity”.
By 2004, it was the second biggest UK clothes retailer, selling jeans for
£3.
It opened an online store in 2008 and a year later had become the UK’s biggest clothing store by volume and a sector leader in back-toschool wear.
THE body of a man has been found in a house in Leicester.
Police were called to the home in Fosse Road South, in Westcotes, by the East Midlands Ambulance Service and are treating the death as unexplained.
The ambulance staff called police to the house, which is near to the junction with Cambridge Street, shortly before 7.15pm on Monday.
A police officer was yesterday standing guard at the front door of the property to preserve the scene.
A police spokeswoman said: “Shortly before 7.15pm (Monday) police were called by the ambulance service to an address in Fosse Road South.
“Officers attended and the body of a man was found inside a property.
“His death is currently being treated as unexplained and inquiries are continuing.
“A scene-preservation remains in place at this time.”