Morrisons to recruit 3,500 extra drivers and warehouse staff

Morrisons is employing 3,500 drivers and warehouse workers as it ramps up its home delivery network in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

It also said it would introduce new ways of delivering to customers, including vulnerable people and those affected by the virus.

The supermarket wants to recruit 2,500 drivers and pickers as it rolls out its expanded home delivery methods.

It will also seek to employ an additional 1,000 staff to work in its distribution centres.

The recruitment campaign follow on from Morrisons’ announcement last week that it would be implementing immediate payments for its smaller suppliers and supporting their cashflow.

The new measures it is proposing include a range of "simple-to-order food parcels" from 23 March; more delivery slots and taking orders over the phone as it launches a customer call centre.

It will also rely on 100 more stores to pick customers’ shopping over the coming weeks.

David Potts, Morrisons’ chief executive, said: “We expect the days, weeks and months ahead to be very testing and we are determined to do our bit.

“These measures will support our very hard-working colleagues, enable us to provide more food to more people in their homes and create opportunities for people whose jobs are affected by the coronavirus.”