Morrisons is to cut 1,500 manager jobs as it becomes the latest supermarket to shake up its staff structure.

The retailer will create another 1,700 junior roles as part of the plans announced to all employees this morning.

The company, which is the UK’s fourth largest supermarket, has 13 stores in Kent.

Its announcement comes a week after Sainsbury’s told staff it would cut “thousands” of management roles across all its stores.

A day earlier, Tesco had announced plans which will lead to it cutting 800 positions.

Morrisons said it has about 800 management vacancies, meaning staff affected by its shake up will have the chance to stay at the company.

Retail director Gary Mills said: “Our aim is to serve customers better with more front-line colleagues in stores improving product availability and helping customers at the checkouts.

“Very regrettably, there will be a period of uncertainty for some managers affected by these proposals and we’ll be supporting them through this important process.

“Our commitment is to redeploy as many affected colleagues as possible.”

Morrisons has stores in Canterbury, Dover, Faversham, Folkestone, Gravesend, Herne Bay, Isle of Sheppey, Larkfield, Maidstone, Margate, Sittingbourne, Strood and Walderslade.

Joanne McGuinness, national officer for shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw and Sata said: “This is a further big upheaval for the Morrisons store management team after the restructure in 2014/15.

“We will be entering into consultations with the company on behalf of our members affected by these changes, which the company proposes to implement in April.

“Our priorities are to avoid redundancies and help our members stay employed within the business. We have secured from Morrisons a commitment to offer redeployment opportunities for all affected managers.”