VALE AM Jane Hutt AM has met with Waitrose’s head of shop trade, Lucy Brown to discuss the closure of the Barry store in June this year.
Waitrose announced earlier this month that it would be closing its Barry premises on June 9 this year - after 15 years of trading under the name in the town.
Mrs Brown said it was in no way a reflection on the staff who had provided excellent service for so long in Barry.
Ms Hutt sought assurances that staff would be supported and was told that goal was to mitigate redundancy and support people who would be moving on.
Ms Hutt asked that in mitigating redundancies John Lewis store be included to increase opportunities and was informed that this would be looked into.
She also made enquiries regarding e-sales at the Barry store.
This issue has not yet been resolved but is also being looked into.
Ms Hutt said: "I am very disappointed that Waitrose have decided to close the store in Barry despite assurances made to staff and myself earlier this year that this would not be the case.
"I have been assured that the 124 members of staff who have served the store in Barry will be supported and I will monitor the situation over the next few months."
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