Around 100 job losses at Whitbread head office following sale of Costa

It is believed that around 100 jobs will be lost at the head office of Whitbread following the sale of its coffee shop brand Costa to Coca-Cola for £3.9b.

A spokesperson for the group, said that the sale of Costa will result in "a small number of people leaving the business. However, we will create around 1,700 new jobs over the next 12 months as we open more than 40 hotels and restaurants across the UK."

Whitbread is now focused on its Premier Inn budget hotel brand, comprising more than 800 properties, and its restaurant portfolio of Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Table Table.

A streamlining of Whitbread's head office in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, is now in progress, while the operational teams within the company's hotels and restaurants will not be affected.

All staff impacted by the job losses are being consulted, while alternative positions are being found for the team where possible.

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