HUNDREDS of jobs are set to be axed at Asda after the supermarket chain unveiled a major shake-up of its store operations topday.

The firm, owned by British-Indian billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, said some overnight restocking shifts at 184 stores would be moved to daytime hours, endangering 211 night-shift manager roles.

The shift-pattern change could also see more than 4,000 workers who replenish products overnight lose their night-shift pay premium of at least £2.52 an hour.

Additionally, working hours at the chain’s 23 in-store Post Office shops will be slashed by more than a fifth following a “decline in the number of customers using this service,” according to bosses, who also announced the permanent closure of seven in-shop pharmacies. 

Retail director Ken Towle claimed it is “vital we review changing customer preferences and our own ways of working to ensure we are operating as efficiently as possible.” 

He added: “We are now entering a period of consultation with colleagues and we will do all we can to support them.”

But the GMB union, which represents many Asda workers, warned of “significant job losses.”

National officer Nadine Houghton, who confirmed that union reps met management yesterday, said the changes could also result in “low-paid night colleagues on 30 hours losing £300 to £400 a month during a cost-of-living crisis. 

“GMB is concerned the proposals are quite simply unworkable due to a reduced amount of time being made available to replenish the shop floor.

“Health and safety concerns will undoubtedly increase as customers will be on the shop floor while replenishment is taking place, something that is less of an issue under night-time restocking.”