Morrisons is reportedly planning to ditch at least 83 property maintenance suppliers, which could put up to 1,000 jobs at risk.
The supermarket chain is looking to move to a single provider for repairs, likely affecting jobs based in Bradford, according to The Guardian.
Morrisons has said staff dealing with property maintenance at its Bradford head office and around the UK could be affected by the changes.
The maintenance suppliers, who have been with the supermarket chain for decades, are reported to have been informed that their contracts may end in July.
Some suppliers allege more than 200 providers, including subcontractors, were likely to be affected alongside head office staff, although Morrisons said this figure would likely be a lot lower.
The companies affected by the cuts provide cleaning, electrical, gardening, roofing and other maintenance professionals for Morrisons’ stores, manufacturing sites and head office.
A large number of these suppliers had been taken on by Morrison's co-founder Sir Ken Morrison who started the supermarket chain from a market stall in Bradford in 1961.
Some suppliers said their relationships with the chain had been "ended" through a short video call in which "they had not been able to ask questions".
The Guardian reported that some Morrisons staff will be transferred to a new sole provider called City Facilities Management, which is based in Glasgow.
Other existing suppliers may become subcontractors for the chain.
Morrisons says it cannot give a figure of potential job losses as the move is a proposal, however, suppliers said they had been given "no guarantees" and "believe that many more could go".
Two suppliers told the Guardian they expect to lay off around 200 staff between them as their business was "so reliant" on Morrisons.
One supplier told The Guardian: “They project themselves as a local company selling local product from farm to fork, but it’s not local any more.
"The foundations Sir Ken wrote his manifesto on have been ripped up for a few quid.”
A Morrisons spokesperson told the Guardian: “We are proposing some important changes and improvements to our maintenance model through a new national partnership with City FM, but we anticipate many of our existing suppliers to continue to work for Morrisons under subcontracting arrangements.
"We are endeavouring to communicate and execute these changes carefully and thoughtfully with all those affected.”
Morrisons spokesperson told Mirror Money: “We are proposing some important changes and improvements to our maintenance model through a new national partnership with City FM, but we anticipate many of our existing suppliers to continue to work for Morrisons under subcontracting arrangements. We are endeavouring to communicate and execute these changes carefully and thoughtfully with all those affected.”
