Manchester United is set to close the staff canteen at Old Trafford, replacing the free lunches currently provided to employees with fruit. A similar change will take place at the club’s Carrington training facility, where only players will continue to receive free lunches, while non-playing staff will be offered soup and bread.
This move is part of broader cost-cutting measures introduced by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s largest single minority shareholder, in an effort to reduce losses and restore financial stability. The decision comes alongside a wave of redundancies, with between 150 and 200 jobs expected to be cut from the club’s 900-strong workforce. These changes were confirmed during an all-staff meeting at Old Trafford, where chief executive Omar Berrada addressed employees but did not take questions.
The staff canteen, which typically operates from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, will be shut by the end of the week. Currently, employees can access free hot meals, tea, and coffee, with some soft drinks available for purchase. Moving forward, only free fruit will be available to staff at the stadium, while casual match-day employees will continue to receive a packed lunch. The club estimates that ending free lunches will result in savings of £1 million.
A statement outlining a new “transformation plan” emphasized the need to return the club to profitability after five consecutive years of financial losses since 2019. The plan aims to create a stronger financial foundation to support investment in the club’s men’s and women’s teams, as well as infrastructure improvements.
Berrada acknowledged the difficult impact of the job cuts but stressed that they were necessary to ensure the club’s long-term stability. He highlighted that Manchester United cannot continue operating at a loss while striving for success on the pitch and improvements to facilities. During the meeting, financial officer Roger Bell presented data illustrating the club’s recent financial struggles, while comparisons were drawn to other successful clubs operating with leaner workforces.
Additional measures include relocating some employees from Old Trafford to Carrington, reducing the number of staff in the London office, and requiring all executives to be based in Manchester. Marc Armstrong, the newly appointed chief business officer, is among those affected by this directive.
Changes will also impact employee compensation, with bonuses set to be paid at a reduced rate before transitioning to an incentive-based system tied to both on-field and financial performance. Meanwhile, the club’s charitable donations will be limited to the Manchester United Foundation and the Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association, with the current £40,000 annual contribution remaining unchanged.
United plans to conduct a consultation process to gather employee feedback on these changes as it moves forward with its restructuring efforts.
