STAFF at a Saltcoats supermarket were this week told their jobs were at risk as a consultation period started.

Sainsbury’s in Hamilton Street has served the people of the Three Towns for almost a decade and the building in the centre of the town has been a supermarket under one name or another, for generations.

But now up to a third of staff at the store will be made redundant in an exercise described to keep ‘providing the best possible service’ by the company.

Information obtained by the Herald point to a reduction on what is on offer in the store with the possibility of aisles being taken away and the much-loved Deli Counter being at risk of axe.

Decisions are being taken next month on the jobs front with staff only being made aware of the chance of redundancy last week.

The Herald understands that no managers or supervisors face losing their jobs at this stage and Sainsbury’s confirmed that the store was not at risk of imminent closure.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, “We regularly review our stores to ensure we’re operating as efficiently as possible and providing our customers with the best possible service. Following a recent review, we’re making some changes to our Saltcoats store, subject to consultation. We appreciate this will be a difficult time for affected colleagues and we will support them though the period ahead.”