Only a few days ago, Andy Clarke, CEO of Asda, the UK's third-largest grocer by sales, spoke somewhat ominously of "turbulent times" ahead and another tough year with "massive pressure" on supermarket operators. Staff are now learning what exactly he meant by this.According to the UK media, 200 senior management positions were eliminated on Monday with around 600 more still under review. Estimates vary widely, but as many as 1,000 jobs could be at risk at both HQ and store level in a major reassessment that has the potential to affect up to 5,000 staff. This bloodbath follows a cull of 1,360 jobs in the shops last July.But the power to sack provides only fleeting gratification to those in command. Customers begin to complain about a lack of service, and management talent will drift to competitors. Constant fear of redundancy may make employees pleasingly subservient to dominant execs, but it seldom fosters creativity or entrepreneurial spirit.With a motivational flourish that will surely have old Sam Walton, founder of US parent company Walmart, 'a rolling in his grave, the UK media also report that Asda now plans to scrap all canteen facilities along with vending machines and free cups of tea and coffee. What, one wonders, is next?

Soon Robert De Niro won't be the only one talking Italian. Managers at Aldi, Germany's most profitable discounter, are learning the lingo quick so that they can open up shop south of the Alps this year.And when they do, there is likely to be a battle royal on prices throughout the peninsula for the hearts, minds and pockets of Italy's 60m consumers. Lidl Italia, with a head start of 25 years, will surely sharpen prices in defence of its role as the country's leading discount gladiator. This will only put more pressure on number four player, Rewe subsidiary Penny.Meanwhile, rumours abound as to how Aldi intends to conquer sunny Italy. Country manager Max Hofmarksrichter is believed to be negotiating the purchase of a distribution centre from local Coop Carniche in the north-eastern region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. And sources close to industry federation IBC claim that Aldi has been actively recruiting staff in the Triveneto area since December.True to form, parent company Aldi Süd (Aldi South) refuses to comment. All we know for sure is that expansion into Italy is being actively coordinated via Austrian subsidiary Hofer and that head office is in Verona. Currently, the 4,800m² premises are undergoing refurbishment.The real question, of course, is whether Aldi intends to start from scratch when Lidl has already built a substantial empire with more than 11,000 employees, 570 stores and estimated annual revenues last year of €3.6bn.