About 2,000 jobs are at risk after Sainsbury’s revealed plans to close 200 in-store cafes. 

The supermarket told staff it was looking to shut most of the cafes in its supermarkets next month, affecting about 2,000 roles.

It said 67 Sainsbury’s cafes would stay open while it reviewed the estate, and staff will be prioritised for vacancies in other parts of the company. 

The closures are part of a wider shake-up within the stores, with Sainsbury’s set to bring in more Starbucks cafes and food halls. 

The retailer will open another 30 Starbucks stores in its supermarkets in the next year and a further 30 “The Restaurant Hubs”. They sell food and drink from chains including Carluccio’s and Gourmet Burger Kitchen. 

Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: “We have learnt that we can offer customers a much better eat-in and takeaway experience working with partners.”

He said the decision to close the cafes had been “difficult”, adding: “We understand this is very unsettling for our colleagues, but we must keep adapting our business to make sure we are offering customers the best possible food and drink at affordable prices.”

It comes as supermarket chains wrangle with rising costs from steeper energy bills and logistics fees, and look to tempt customers back into stores after many turned to online shopping during lockdowns. 

Less than a year ago, Sainsbury’s slashed hundreds of jobs in its head office to invest more cash into its core food operations and to bolster its online sales. That restructuring removed 500 office roles. It previously had cut 3,500 jobs after shutting down fresh meat and fish counters. 

Sainsbury’s said on Tuesday that, as part of the planned changes, it would be making changes in its bakeries in 54 stores in a move that is expected to affect a small number of workers.

It will also close less popular hot food counters in 34 stores. 

Sainsbury’s said it was starting a consultation for those workers affected, and was looking to redeploy them elsewhere in the stores.