The supermarket chain’s owner B&M recently said it was struggling
Heron Foods’ Store Support Centre in Melton.(Image: Google Streetview)
A number of jobs have been cut at the East Yorkshire head office of frozen foods supermarket Heron, with bosses saying they come as part of changes to the business. The Melton-based retailer – which has a network of more than 340 sites across the country – confirmed a “small number” of workers at its head office had been impacted.
The changes are said to impact fewer than 1% of the more than 5,500-strong workforce at the discount food firm’s base. It said efforts were being made to give affected workers alternative jobs within the company.
Last year Heron cut as many as 250 staff nationwide, across its shops and warehouses as it faced falling sales and profits. But the budget chain had identified areas for expansion – and is targeting 10 new shop openings in its current financial year.
Despite rising costs, including from an increase in the National Minimum Wage, Heron said it was ramping up efforts to refurbish existing stores and relocate some others, where opportunities popped up to improve customer experience and entice more shoppers.
In January, the company’s owner – discount giant B&M – issued a profit warning citing Heron’s poor financial performance. B&M chiefs said they were reviewing the company’s offer to customers, and chief executive Tjeerd Jegen talked of a “back to B&M basics” approach for the group.
A spokesperson for Heron Foods said: “Unfortunately, a small number of roles at our Store Support Centre in Melton, East Yorkshire are impacted as part of changes within the business. Wherever possible, we have worked to transition affected colleagues into alternative roles within the business.
“These changes impact less than 1% of our workforce and are necessary as we continue to adapt to an evolving retail landscape. Our focus remains unchanged: providing customers with top-quality products at the lowest possible prices, every day in every store.”
Heron Foods was founded as Grindells Butchers on Hull’s Holderness Road in the late 1970s. It has since grown considerably and is now part of the B&M group.
In the year to March 29, 2025, it opened 14 new and relocated shops. That included eight net openings after the closure of older and under-performing sites which had come to the end of their lease.
Last year the chain’s Cottingham store was relaunched after a revamp which brought in new style freezers and its food-to-go meal deal range. The Spring Bank West shop in Hull also received a refresh.
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