Retail chain Maxima is set to lay off 126 butchers as part of a strategic shift to centralize meat preparation processes, according to the Employment Service (UŽT). While the company is terminating these roles citing redundant functions, 49 of the affected employees have already accepted positions elsewhere within the retail network. The layoffs are scheduled to take place between August 1 and October 1.
Operational Changes and Staff Reductions
The decision to reduce staff follows a shift in how the company handles fresh, weighed Lithuanian meat. According to Giedrius Galdikas, director of the Communication and Corporate Affairs Department at Maxima, the company is moving toward a centralized preparation model. Under this new structure, meat is delivered to certain stores already processed by suppliers. The company states this change is intended to improve supply chain quality, product traceability, and inventory management.
The layoffs are being executed under Article 57, Part 1, Item 1 of the Labor Code, which applies when a worker’s function becomes redundant due to changes in work organization. Most of the affected butchers are located in Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda, with only one to three positions being eliminated in other cities. Milda Jankauskienė, a representative for the Employment Service, noted that the final number of departures may shift as some staff members are currently on leave or have taken other internal roles.
The company reports that as a result of centralizing these meat preparation processes, prices for some popular fresh, weighed Lithuanian pork products were reduced by up to 25 percent starting July 2.
Impact on Workforce and Future Outlook
For the employees affected by the reorganization, the transition involves varying outcomes. While 49 individuals have already moved into different positions within the company, others remain in the process of leaving. Maxima maintains that it is conducting these departures in consultation with the company’s labor council and in accordance with legal requirements.
Looking ahead, the company asserts that these changes will not alter the assortment or quality of meat offered to customers. Shoppers are expected to continue seeing 100 percent Lithuanian-origin fresh meat in store displays. As the October 1 deadline for the layoffs approaches, the final impact on the company’s total workforce—which currently stands at 11,398 employees—will depend on how many of the remaining staff secure alternative roles within the retail network.
The move to centralize meat preparation reflects a broader retail trend toward efficiency and standardized quality control. By shifting labor-intensive tasks from individual storefronts to suppliers, the company gains tighter control over its supply chain, though this transition inevitably creates friction for specialized staff whose roles are eliminated at the local level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the butchers being laid off?
The company states that the roles are becoming redundant due to a centralization of meat preparation processes, which involves receiving pre-cut meat from suppliers.
How many employees are affected?
Out of 11,398 total employees, 126 butchers were given notice of termination, though 49 of them have already transitioned to other positions within the company.
When will these changes be completed?
The layoffs are scheduled to occur between August 1 and October 1 under the conditions specified in Article 63 of the Labor Code.
Will these organizational changes lead to a decline in the availability of local meat products for consumers?
