Iceland has increased the level of responsibility for area managers who will now look after both Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores in their allocated region, Grocery Gazette can reveal.

The change will see all area managers, which were previously split by brand, lead stores based on their location.

Iceland said that the move is primarily based on geographical practicalities, ensuring area managers can work closely with stores and teams across both brands.

While the frozen food retailer said the move would “unlock growth opportunities for talent, as well as cut down on unnecessary travel time,” it has come as a cause for concern for some workers.

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Sources told Grocery Gazette that the change has led some employees to fear for their jobs, however, Iceland confirmed that no one is currently facing redundancy.

This comes as the supermarket is set to close more stores in coming weeks as it grapples with high energy costs and double-digit inflation.

According to reports in The Sun, Iceland closed a store in Flint, Wales last week and is due to shut down another in Beccles, Suffolk on 17 June.

This follows on from closures earlier this year at its Bromsgrove, Basingstoke, Rhyl, Bedminster and Bangor branches, as well as an additional three in Newport, Berwick and Hexham on 22 April.