STAFF at Orange’s two Woolworths supermarkets will keep their jobs despite a massive company restructure that will slash 500 jobs and close under-performing stores across Australia and New Zealand.
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The company has also restructured its Big W and EziBuy chains, and identified five Big W stores that will close within the next three years.
Woolworths has two stores in Orange, one in Anson Street and the second in the North Orange shopping centre, and both will remain open.
Orange also has a Big W store in the Orange City Centre.
A Woolworths Limited spokesperson addressed the future of Woolworths in a written statement to the Central Western Daily.
"Woolworths looks forward to continuing to deliver our great produce and low everyday prices to our customers in Orange, and we thank them for their ongoing loyalty," he said.
.“[This] needs to be kept in the context of Woolworths closing down 17 underperforming supermarkets across a total store network of almost 1000 stores.
"We will be opening 45 [Woolworths] stores in the next three years.”
The spokesperson said, however he was unable to comment on Orange's Big W store.
"As part of a restructure to turn the business around, Big W will potentially be closing up to five of the 186 stores we currently have across Australia over the next 3 years," he said.
"Unfortunately, due to commercial negotiations with those landlords affected we are unable to comment on the future of individual stores."
In addition to the confirmed store closures, many other Woolworths and Big W across Australian and New Zealand are under review.
The company’s announcement on Monday confirmed 34 Woolworths stores had been identified as underperforming, as have 18 Big W stores.
Woolworths has two stores in Bathurst, one in the Bathurst City Centre and the second in Stockland, and both will remain open.
On Monday Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci unveiled the results of a strategic review launched in May.
The $1 billion restructure will halve the rate of new supermarket openings from 90 over the next three years to 45.
Capital will be redirected to refurbishments, a move that has been welcomed by listed property groups.