John Lewis is considering the closure of its in-store foreign exchange desks and dedicated gift-wrapping areas, putting 200 jobs at risk.

The employee-owned business has confirmed it is proposing the shuttering of its bureau de change areas due to declining demand. It has entered into a consultation period with around 200 partners, who together make up 125 full-time equivalent roles, over the move, which would affect 30 stores across the country.

John Lewis said this follows a reduction in the number of currency transactions it is processing in-store, as customers increasingly choose to order currency online, use credit cards, or make digital payments whilst abroad.

If the proposal is accepted, the company will continue to offer currency orders online, which it said allows access to a much broader range of currencies than those available in-store. This service provides home delivery and click and collect options from Waitrose or John Lewis stores.

The department store chain is also proposing the closure of its dedicated gift-wrapping areas, which currently share space with bureau de change desks at 25 stores. It is considering offering this service “in a more accessible way” at the till as an alternative. It has not indicated that this would result in further job losses.

Partners affected by these proposals have entered a consultation period, and John Lewis said they will receive “full support throughout the process”. It added that where possible, it is committed to supporting partners seeking redeployment into other suitable roles.

A John Lewis spokesperson said: “Our customers are increasingly buying the broad range of currencies we offer online, and enjoying the convenience of having this delivered directly to their home or collecting it at one of our shops. As we focus on modernising this proposition to meet our customers’ changing needs, we’re proposing to close our in-store foreign exchange bureaus as well as our gift-wrapping service.”

John Lewis is in the midst of an £800 million multi-year store transformation programme intended to modernise its physical real estate, which has led to several store updates in recent months. In June, John Lewis announced a £50 million investment across five stores to expand its product ranges and brand offerings in these locations.

One month prior, the company replaced its long-standing The Place to Eat café brand with a new concept called Platter John Lewis as another step in this strategy.

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