Poor sales and a slowdown in the Jersey economy have been blamed by parent company Merchant Retail Group as the reason for the lay-offs at one of the Island’s oldest and best-known businesses.However, Merchant Retail chief executive Philip Newton, speaking from Italy, where he is on holiday, said that he was confident about the longer-term future of the A de Gruchy business.The jobs to go are mainly those of managers and buyers.
They were told yesterday morning.
Some have been offered alternative employment within the company.
By late morning it was known that at least six employees had decided to leave the company.
