Currys PC World and Pizza Express have become the latest casualties of the coronavirus pandemic with both firms announcing job losses.

Currys PC World’s parent company Dixons Carphone is planning a shake-up of its store management structure.

Roles such as retail manager, assistant manager and team leader roles will be removed, as well as some business advisor roles. New sales manager, customer experience manager and operation excellent manager roles will be created, as well as positions in ShopLive, a personal shopping service providing customers with expert advice from home via video link.

These changes would result in an overall reduction of 800 roles. The firm has begun a consultation process with affected staff.

Mark Allsop, Dixons Carphone chief operating officer, said: “We remain committed to our stores as part of an omnichannel future, where we offer the best of online and stores to our customers. As part of this we want to empower our store leadership teams, create a flatter management structure and make it easy for our customers to shop with us, however they choose.

“This proposal will ensure in-store roles are focused on giving a seamless customer experience and exceptional service across all our customer channels, whether online or in-store.”

PizzaExpress

Also on the high street, PizzaExpress has said it could close about 67 of its UK restaurants, putting up to 1,100 jobs at risk.

The chain, which also announced it has put itself up for sale, blamed the move on the “significantly more challenging environment” caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

All 449 PizzaExpress’ UK restaurants closed on 23 March when lockdown begun; 166 sites have since reopened.

The chain’s management said they had reached an agreement with its secured creditors and its majority shareholder, Hony Capital, for a restructuring of the business that will cut costs by £144m and help it bounce back from the pandemic.

Andy Pellington, PizzaExpress group chief finance officer, said: “While we have had to make some very difficult decisions, none of which has been taken lightly, we are confident in the actions being taken to reduce the level of debt, create a more focused business and improve the operational performance, all of which puts us in a much stronger position.

“We can now plan to invest in both our UK&I and international businesses as well as support our teams as they return to work.”

Other job losses

The announcements from Dixons Carphone and PizzaExpress are the latest in a long line of companies to announce job cuts.

DW Sports announced on Monday that it was to go into administration, putting 1,700 jobs at risk.

The same day saw Hays Travel, which bought Thomas Cook last year, announce that up to 878 jobs could go.

M&S says 900 jobs are at risk.

Airbus, TM Lewin and SSP Group all announced job cuts last month.