Morrisons is poised to trial a new store staff structure with “more Indians, less chiefs” this month.

The grocer will open a new store, in an undisclosed location, in the next two weeks with a trial model which reduces the number of middle managers and supervisors in store.

A Morrisons spokesman said: “It’s more Indians, less chiefs basically. It’s about having more customer facing colleagues and having a slightly leaner management structure in stores.”

The grocer insisted the model, which it will roll out to a further four new stores before Christmas, will not result in a net reduction in store staff as had previously been speculated.

Morrisons employs around 350 staff in its supermarkets and around 50 hold managerial roles.