BOSTON (CBS) – Shaw’s Supermarkets announced on Friday that they plan to lay off about 700 in-store workers.

The cuts will happen across 169 Shaw’s and Star Markets in New England.

Affected workers will be informed about the layoffs within the next few days.

“A decision of this nature is never easy, but after careful evaluation, it is unfortunately the necessary step for us to take to help improve our business, reduce expenses and reinvest in more customer-facing initiatives,” said Mike Stigers, president, Shaw’s.

Shaw’s employs about 17,000 people.