Ahold USA Restructuring Expected to Cut 120 Support Center Jobs

3/6/2015

Ahold USA is embarking on an internal restructuring effort that is expected to result in a reduction of 120 positions in its support centers in Carlisle, Pa., and Quincy, Mass.

The layoffs will affect roughly 6 percent of the regional retailer's shared service teams such as marketing, human resources and legal.

“Today’s announcement is the next step in our work to make Ahold USA better able to serve our customers," Tracy Pawelski, Ahold USA's VP of external communications, told Progressive Grocer. "These changes build on the successful steps we’ve taken in other parts of our operations to lower prices, limit costs and make our decision-making quicker and less complex.”

“Unfortunately," Pawelski continued, "this means we will need to eliminate a small percentage of AUSA support center positions – a decision that we do not take lightly. We project that approximately 6 percent – or around 120 of our current AUSA support positions – may be eliminated."

A voluntary separation incentive plan will be offered to eligible workers that is "designed to limit the impact on our people," added Pawelski, who noted that the bulk of the restructuring is expected to be complete by early summer of 2015.

The retailer has been actively managing open positions over the last nine months, with the scope of the restructuring efforts applying only to Ahold USA support centers positions, located primarily in Carlisle and Quincy.

The move comes in the wake of the departure earlier this week of Joe Kelley, president of Ahold USA's Stop & Shop New England division. Don Sussman, division president, Stop & Stop New York Metro, will also oversee the Stop & Shop New England division on an interim basis until a replacement for Kelley is named.

Ahold USA operates roughly 770 supermarkets in 14 states and is comprised of four retail grocery divisions – Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover and Giant Carlisle – as well as Peapod, the nation's leading online grocery service.

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