Asda is consulting staff on changes to its business that could result in 2,500 job losses next year – when the UK leaves the EU.
The chain, which is currently planning on merging with Sainsbury's, is the latest major supermarket to announce a shake-up of the way it works aimed at saving costs.
Asda said: "In a competitive retail market, where customers rightly expect great value and ease of service, we must always look at how we can work more quickly and efficiently for them – and inevitably, that means we need to consider changing the roles we need our colleagues to do or the hours needed in particular parts of our stores.
"We believe the proposed changes we are consulting on would allow us to do a better job for our customers.
"We also recognise that discussions about potential change aren't easy.
"If the decision is taken to implement the proposed changes we would work with our colleagues to look at the potential impact of these proposals on them."
Areas of work affected by any changes include petrol, bakery, back office and so-called hosting.
Jobs in the George areas of Asda stores could also be hit.
Other members of the so-called 'big four', including Tesco and Morrisons, have already carried out similar exercises.
Asda hopes its planned £12bn tie-up with Sainsbury's – currently the subject of a competition probe – will bring down the cost of their combined offering through lower wholesale costs.
The pair insist they have no plans to cut stores and jobs but MPs have questioned the merits of their merger.
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The Competition and Markets Authority, which is investigating the tie-up, said last month there was a substantial risk that business overlap risked harming competition in 463 areas.
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