Acme Cuts 900 Part-Time Workers

MARK HAMSTRA

MALVERN, Pa. – Acme Markets here said Thursday it would reduce its workforce by cutting 900 part-time positions to reflect losses in sales volumes at the stores.

"Last year, Acme established an aggressive plan aimed at getting our business in line with our financial realities," said Dan Sanders, president, Acme, in a prepared statement. "As part of that initiative, we continue to look at the best ways to achieve success around our strategy to lower prices, improve customer service, reinvest in the business and align our workforce with today's customer needs and economic realities. We are beginning to see positive results in some areas, but we still face significant sales challenges."

The company said the cuts "primarily affect the least-senior employees who currently work about 12-16 hours per week." All positions are clerks and baggers, a spokesman told SN.

Acme, a division of Minneapolis-based Supervalu, operates 117 stores in four states.