Costa Coffee warn over 1,000 jobs at risk

The role of assistant store managers could be cut across UK branches

Costa Coffee have warned that as many as 1,650 jobs across their UK shops are at risk of being cut due to the economic downturn induced by the coronavirus pandemic. Costa say the decision to cut jobs was "extremely difficult" and that they are looking to find new roles in other areas of the firm for employees who are at risk of being made redundant. "Our baristas are the heart of the Costa business and I am truly sorry that many now face uncertainty following today's news," said Neil Lake, managing director for Costa Coffee UK and Ireland. While most of their shops have re-opened after lockdown was all but ended in Britain, they are still missing out on business from commuters with so many workers still working from home. The coffee shop chain says there are still "high levels of uncertainty" as to when their trade will return to the highs of the pre-coronavirus era. As many as 26,500 people work for Costa Coffee across both their wholly owned shops and franchise outlets. "We have had to make these difficult decisions to protect the business and ensure we safeguard as many jobs as possible for our 16,000 team members, whilst emerging stronger, ready for future growth", the company said. Costa are not the first and will not be the last firm to make such cuts as a result of declining trade in the post-Covid world. Rival coffee shop Pret a Manger last week announced it would be cutting 3,000 jobs, equating to a third of its workforce.