Amazon will close all 19 of its Amazon Fresh stores in the UK, just four years after opening its first location in London. Five shops will be converted into Whole Foods Market outlets, the organic grocery chain Amazon bought in 2017.
Launched in 2021, Amazon Fresh stores allowed customers to shop without tills, using an app and in-store sensors to track purchases. However, the concept faltered as demand for contactless shopping fell after the pandemic, and the company failed to challenge major rivals like Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
Amazon did not confirm how many jobs will be affected but said staff would be offered roles elsewhere in the business. The closures mark a shift in Amazon’s grocery strategy, with greater emphasis on Whole Foods and online grocery sales.
The company also plans to double the number of UK Prime members with access to grocery options through partnerships with Morrisons, Iceland, Co-op and Gopuff. From next year, fresh groceries including meat, seafood and dairy will be available directly on the Amazon website.
Amazon’s grocery operations have faced scrutiny in the UK, with the Groceries Code Adjudicator investigating claims that the firm failed to pay suppliers on time. Despite the setbacks, Amazon UK country manager John Boumphrey said the company would continue to expand choice, convenience and low prices across its grocery offerings.
