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LONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - British retailer Marks & Spencer
said on Tuesday it plans to cut a further 7,000 jobs,
dealing the latest blow to the country's beleaguered retail
sector from the COVID-19 crisis.
M&S said last month it would shed 950 jobs as part of a
store management revamp. Its latest round of redundancies will
impact its central support centre, regional management and UK
stores over the next three months.
The cuts add to thousands already announced by other major
British retailers, including Boots, John Lewis
, Dixons Carphone and WH Smith.
M&S said it expected a significant proportion of the latest
cuts would be through voluntary departures and early retirement.
"These proposals are an important step in becoming a leaner,
faster business set up to serve changing customer needs and we
are committed to supporting colleagues through this time," said
Chief Executive Steve Rowe.
M&S said group sales were down 19.2% year-on-year in the 19
weeks to Aug. 20, which included part of Britain's lockdown
period, with clothing and home sales down 49.1% and food sales
down 1.1%.
In the latter eight weeks of the period clothing and home
sales were down 29.9%, while food sales were up 2.5%.
(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Sarah Young)