LUFKIN, Texas — Brookshire Brothers, the employee-owned supermarket and convenience-store operator based here, has trimmed its corporate staff by 47 employees, the company said.

The move followed the examination of the company's operations by an outside consulting firm “in an effort to increase competitiveness and deal with the challenges of a tough economy,” Brookshire Brothers said in a prepared statement.

“Many companies have been required to look at what they do well and where they can improve. This move is painful for all of us, but it will help us be more competitive in the long run.”

Brookshire Brothers, which is not affiliated with Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire Grocery Co., has faced increased pressure from Wal-Mart Supercenters, sources said.

Brookshire Brothers operates 72 supermarkets in Texas and Louisiana — two fewer than it did in 2008 — and 30 convenience stores under the Polk Pick It Up banner. It employs 5,900 workers and has estimated annual revenues of $1.2 billion.

The cuts were made in several departments at the company's headquarters, distribution center and bakery, a spokeswoman for Brookshire Brothers told SN. Store-level workers were not affected, she said.