Channel Island Co-op closes two warehouses for UK site

The Channel Island Co-Operative Society will replace its household goods warehouses with a single large UK warehouse, the company has announced.

Co-op will close the Homemaker warehouses in each island.

In a statement, CEO Colin Macleod said it was no longer sustainable to operate two warehouses.

Mr Macleod said a small number of people may lose their jobs but he "is confident of losing no colleagues".

'Bygone age'

He said: "The days where we could afford to retain two dedicated non-food warehouses to service our Homemakers on both islands are behind us.

"They are the product of a bygone age."

Mr Macleod said the current economic climate brought "every cost into sharp focus".

He said: "We deeply regret the uncertainty this situation leads to for our colleagues although we are very confident that those affected will be able to be redeployed into other parts of our business.

"We are pleased though that the majority of colleagues will be unaffected as we aim to retain our excellent non-food delivery service very much as it is now."

The company intends to continue to stock distress items such as cookers or washing machines that islanders may want an immediate replacement for.