Jobs at risk as Co-op operations move from Channel Islands to UK

A retailer has announced plans to move operations from the Channel Islands to the UK putting 23 workers "at risk" of redundancy.

The Channel Islands Co-operative Society (CICS) said warehouse operations could move to a distribution centre in Andover.

The proposed move would see the Guernsey food warehouse close first, followed by Jersey.

The society said alternative employment opportunities will be "explored".

The retailer, which said the move could be completed by summer 2015, assured its members and customers that there were "no anticipated disruptions to the supply of products into its stores".

Colin Macleod, CICS chief executive, said: "This has been an extremely difficult decision, especially when it potentially affects our colleagues but once Andover's modern Co-operative facility opened last year, we were duty bound to review our supply chain."

He added: "We are pleased to say that there will be opportunities to re-train people within the Society and we plan to re-deploy wherever possible."