Hundreds of Jobs at Risk as John Lewis Proposes Service Changes
Around 200 jobs could be at risk after John Lewis announced plans to close its in-store foreign exchange services and dedicated gift-wrapping areas as part of efforts to modernise its operations.
The retailer confirmed that no final decision has been made and that it has begun a consultation process with affected employees. If approved, the proposed redundancies would take effect in the autumn.
John Lewis said the planned closure of its in-store bureaux de change reflects declining customer demand, while gift-wrapping services would be moved from dedicated counters to checkout tills.
A company spokesperson said:
“As we focus on modernising this proposition to meet our customers’ changing needs, we’re proposing to close our in-store foreign exchange bureaus as well as our gift wrapping service.”
The spokesperson added:
“As a result, we’re regretfully consulting with partners who currently deliver these services.”
John Lewis also said it would provide support for affected employees throughout the process.
“We will support affected staff throughout the consultation process and support redeployment where possible.”
According to the retailer, customer habits have shifted significantly in recent years. More shoppers now order foreign currency online for collection in-store, while many travellers increasingly rely on credit cards and digital payment methods when abroad.
The proposed changes would affect foreign exchange counters in 30 stores and dedicated gift-wrapping areas in 25 stores.
The announcement comes as John Lewis continues restructuring efforts under chairman Jason Tarry, who took over in 2024 following several challenging years that saw the retailer close stores and reduce its workforce.
Earlier this year, the company shut its housebuilding division, resulting in additional job losses. In March, it also reinstated staff bonuses for the first time in four years after reporting improved sales and profitability. The bonus scheme had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic—the first such pause since 1953.
Despite reporting a pre-tax loss of £21 million due to one-off costs, including write-downs related to outdated technology systems, the retailer’s underlying profits rose by 6% to £134 million.
Overall sales increased 5% to £13.4 billion, with Waitrose outperforming the department store business. Supermarket sales climbed 7% to £8.5 billion, while John Lewis department stores recorded a 3% increase in sales to £4.9 billion.
