Brown Thomas is facing a picket at its flagship Grafton Street shop. The 25 workers at its in-store cafe are considering industrial action to protest against the replacement of the current operator with a new offering by restaurateur and food writer Domini Kemp.


Staff are understood to be afraid that Kemp will seek significant redundancies and disturb the "pleasant and collegiate" atmosphere of the operation when she takes over, sources say.


The workers have hired solicitors Connolly Sullivan and 15 have joined the union Mandate to represent them to Brown Thomas.


Kemp, who already runs the Brown Thomas cafe in Cork with 15 staff, said the disputes were "very frustrating" but that staff "fears will be unfounded". Conditions of employees will be preserved, she said.