Sainsbury’s has announced that it may axe up to 500 jobs at its support centres as part of a plan to cut costs and save around £500 million in the next three years.

The supermarket group said that it had decided to launch a 12 week consultation process to discuss which jobs will go as they plan to move some workers to other positions.

Chief executive Mike Coupe said: "We want to work through this period of uncertainty as quickly as possible, while making sure we consult with colleagues who are affected by these changes. We're committed to treating all impacted colleagues with respect, during what we know will be a difficult time."

Sainsbury’s is not alone in reviewing its structure - supermarket giants such as Tesco and Morrisons have also signalled plans to close unprofitable stores as the grocery industry continues to be impacted by the success of discount chains.